Ledyard — Former Gallup Hill School Principal Jennifer Byars will take over as assistant superintendent of schools in January.

The Board of Education introduced Byars officially in her new role at its meeting Wednesday evening. Byars will be taking the place of Cathy Patterson, who will be stepping up as the new superintendent. Superintendent Michael Graner will take over as superintendent of Groton Public Schools in January after 10 years in Ledyard.

Byars began her career in education with seven years as a high school science teacher in Virginia before becoming a high school assistant principal there. She became assistant principal at the Gales Ferry/Juliet W. Long School in 2006. Two years later, she became principal of the Gallup Hill School. She will be coming to the school district from her post as principal of Deep River Elementary School, which she has held since 2012.

— Anna Isaacs