Rae Wood, an administrator with deep ties to the community, was selected as the new principal for Oak Harbor Middle School.

Wood starts in her new role on July 1.

Wood is the associate principal at Oak Harbor High School. She brings seven years of experience as an administrator and 23 years of experience in education as a former counselor and teacher.

In an email to middle school staff, Oak Harbor School District Superintendent Lance Gibbon wrote that every person the district contacted about Wood gave her “glowing praise about her leadership and readiness to lead OHMS.”

Wood lives in Oak Harbor with her family. Both of her sons attended Oak Harbor Middle School.

She is a member of the Whidbey Island Bicycle Club and Oak Harbor Kiwanis Club.

“I consider it a privilege to be able to help make a great school even greater,” she said in a prepared statement.

“I’ll be proud to uphold the achievements of OHMS, and I’m excited for us to be able to build on a track record of success together.”