A familiar face will lead Martin Middle School as principal next fall.

Paul Thomas was selected as the school’s next principal during a Dallas County Board of Education meeting Tuesday. He will replace Queen Morrow, who retired in May.

“It’s exciting. I’ve been in the assistant position for actually 11 years now,” Thomas said.

Thomas has spent the last three years as an assistant principal at Dallas County High School but previously worked in the same position at Martin.

His experience in administration helped him stand out among the nine candidates who were interviewed for the job, said Superintendent Don Willingham.

“Paul had the most experience of any of them,” Willingham said.

“This is the perfect job for him. As an assistant, you see a little bit of everything. I don’t think he’s going to have too many surprises. I’m excited for him, and I know he’s exited to get the opportunity to be a principal.”

Thomas said he’s looking forward to work with his colleagues at Martin again come July.

“I think one of the most exciting things about it is I’ve really enjoyed my time at Martin Middle, while I was there,” Thomas said.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to [Martin Middle].”