A retired principal with 30 years of experience in school leadership will take the reins at Hannibal High School for at least the next few months.

Hannibal’s Board of Education recently appointed Jim Chupaila as the interim principal.  He replaces Dr. Brian Schmitt, who was recently named Superintendent of Schools of the Genesee Valley school district.

Chupaila began his teaching career in the North Syracuse school district in 1972.  He earned his first management position as assistant principal in Canastota in 1980.  He returned to North Syracuse as an assistant principal in 1983, rose to associate principal in 1985, and earned his first position as principal with a move to Johnstown from 1985 to 1988.

He returned to Central New York in 1988 as principal at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, where he remained until his retirement in 2010.

Chupaila is also a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam during his time of duty from 1968 to 1970.

The board intends to take its time to find its next permanent high school principal.  One board member said that the process they used to find Superintendent of Schools Donna Fountain — use an interim superintendent for an entire year in order to carry out a careful search — proves the wisdom of that process.