Jessie Houghton, principal of Westwoods Elementary School, has been chosen to replace Dr. Rick Vandermolen as head principal of Traverse City Central High School for the 2016-17 school year. Vandermolen will lead Courtade Elementary and current Courtade principal, Caroline Wacker, will now serve as the district curriculum leader for English language arts. The new position is funded through a federal grant.

Houghton's selection created an opening for a principal at Westwoods, and additional voluntary moves and lateral transfers followed. They include: Dan Tiesworth, principal, Westwoods; Toby Tisdale, assistant principal West Middle; Ben Berger, assistant principal, Central High; Rose Gallagher, assistant principal, East Middle; Terry Smith, principal, Central Grade; Angela Camp, principal, Silver Lake; Katie Bonne, district IB coordinator/administrator, Traverse Heights, East Middle and West Middle.

All principals will begin their new roles on July 1. District officials say the placements were announced now to ensure smooth transitions between the end of the 2015-16 school year and the beginning of the 2016-17 school year.