NATCHEZ — Natchez-Adams School Board President Wayne Barnett said he thinks the district’s new superintendent, Frederick Hill, will take the school district in the right direction.

“He looks like a young man that’s on the way up, and when he comes to Natchez we’re going to be on the way up,” Barnett said.

The school board voted at a specially called meeting Thursday afternoon to enter into a four-year, $133,500-per-year contract with Hill, the current assistant superintendent of the Tupelo Public School District.

Barnett said Hill stuck out among other candidates because of his proven track record of increasing student achievement.

Barnett said Hill also has administrative experience in districts with similar demographics to NASD, including predominantly black districts with a high number of students on free and reduced lunches.

Barnett said Hill impressed the board during his interview and board members thought he had “done his homework,” on NASD.

“(He) gave us an idea that let us know that he knew what he was talking about, and that’s what sold him to us,” Barnett said.

The board voted unanimously in favor of offering Hill the job, and they voted unanimously Thursday to officially ratify the contract.

Hill, 37, said he feels like he’s always done his best work in districts that at one point were high performing but those in which student achievement has dropped off in recent years.

“I feel with my skills and my knowledge … I can get (NASD) back to where it once was as a premier school district,” Hill said.

Hill has worked as assistant superintendent for three years in Tupelo. Before that he worked as principal in Whiteville, N.C.

Hill’s colleagues in Tupelo were aware of Hill’s intentions to seek a top administrative job, Hill said. Hill was publically named a finalist in the recent superintendent searches in Birmingham, Ala., Fairfield, Ala., and Meridian.

Though Hill said he is glad to take the job in Natchez, he will be sad to leave the friendships he’s fostered in Tupelo, both personally and professionally.

“But of course they understand that ultimately (a superintendent’s job) is my goal,” Hill said.

Hill said he will remain in contact with his colleagues and continue to bounce ideas off of each other concerning education.

As far as a leadership style, Hill said he likes to get input from several groups of stakeholders before making isolated decisions if possible.

Hill said he is aware of the restructuring of the NASD schools, which includes consolidating sixth through eighth grades at Morgantown Middle School and reorganizing West, Frazier and McLaurin elementary schools to incorporate pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

“At the end of the day we have got to teach kids, regardless of where (they go to school),” Hill said.

Hill has implemented a number of programs in Tupelo schools to decrease dropout rates. Those programs include a preventative dropout program for students who are at least two years behind in school and another program targeting young mothers or pregnant students, to encourage them to stay in school.

The school-aged mother program has seen 32 students graduate in two years, Hill said.

“Tradition shows that had (those students) stayed on the regular track, they more than likely would not have graduated,” Hill said.

Hill said a focus on non-traditional instruction and technology is not a silver bullet to increase student achievement, but those strategies do provide valuable resources to help students learn.

Hill has a bachelor’s and a doctorate degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, a master’s degree in education from the University of Phoenix and a master’s in business administration from Highpoint University.

Hill said his MBA degree gave him an opportunity to learn about organization and leadership practices.

“Schools are an organization with many, many different levels and functions, similar to any other organization,” Hill said.

Seven years ago when Hill started his career in school administration, Hill said, he discovered he enjoyed being in a position to make decisions that impact a larger number of students and providing them with opportunities.

“It’s a matter of putting in the right resources and support to make sure (a district has) provided an opportunity for students to reach their highest level of potential and growth,” Hill said.

Hill is a native of Skippers, Va., just a few miles north of the North Carolina border. He is the husband to Pamela, and the father of two daughters, ages 18 and 9.

He will take over as head of the school district July 1, replacing Interim Superintendent Joyce Johnson, who has led the school district since the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year. Before he takes his post, Hill said he plans to set up preliminary meetings with district personnel.

“I’m just looking forward to having the opportunity to work with the Natchez-Adams School District,” Hill said.

“I know they’re ready for some permanent leadership, and I’m ready to head down there.”