The interim superintendent for the Mount Desert Island school system has been hired to become its next long-term superintendent.
Michael Zboray most recently served as principal at Pemetic Elementary School in Southwest Harbor, a job he took last summer. He was named interim superintendent following the retirement of Marc Gousse last December.
The MDI school system received applicants for the job from all over the country and, with input from parents, teachers and others affiliated with the island’s schools, was able to narrow the pool of applicants, according to Jessica Stewart, chair of the board island’s regional school system.
Zboray was one of three finalists for the job, she said.
Stewart described Zboray as a creative and innovative thinker and said he has extensive experience in the local school system and knows the community. In addition to working at Pemetic school, he served as principal of Trenton Elementary School for seven years and as assistant principal at Conners Emerson School in Bar Harbor for 14 years, she said.
Stewart said that Zboray’s familiarity with the school system’s unusual structure — which comprises many different municipal school committees and, ultimately, includes 27 different elected school board members from eight towns — also is a plus.
“We thought he was a great fit for our district,” she said.