The Juneau School District hired a new director of student services Friday, filling a position left vacant when current Superintendent Bridget Weiss took her new role.

Christopher Aguirre, who is currently the assistant superintendent of the North Slope Borough School District in Utqiagvik, will take over the position in July, according to a JSD release Friday. Aguirre has 20 years of education experience in Alaska, Texas and New York and is particularly experienced in career and technical education (CTE).

He’s been in his position at the North Slope district for two years, and the dropout rate fell from 9 percent to 3 percent in that time. When Aguirre was Kodiak High School’s principal, the school’s graduation rate went from 87 percent to 96 percent in three years, the JSD release states.

Weiss left the director of student services position for that of superintendent at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year. The district has been searching for her replacement since January, according to the release. In a statement, Aguirre said he and his wife are excited to continue their journey through Alaska’s education system.

“We started our life together in Skagway so it is special to return to Southeast Alaska,” Aguirre said in the release. “I am excited to be joining a team of such dedicated professionals and I am looking forward to serving Juneau students.”