ST. PARIS – Graham Local Schools’ new interim superintendent, Matthew Curtis, is at the moment filling that role at Northwestern Local Schools in Springfield.

The Graham school board approved hiring Curtis for the interim superintendent position at a special Wednesday meeting. The decision was made after interviews with two other former superintendents that evening.

Curtis will start his tenure at Graham Aug. 1. The contract is not to exceed 225 days, Treasurer Judy Geers said.

Curtis replaces outgoing Superintendent Norm Glismann, who resigned to take a job as Tecumseh Local Schools’ superintendent. Glismann’s last day will be July 31.

“I look forward to being part of the Graham Local family,” Curtis said Thursday. “I’m excited to meet everyone and continue the great things going on at Graham.”

He is a former educational consultant for Tecumseh Local Schools and Dayton Public Schools and a former assistant principal at Northwestern Elementary. He has been an assistant superintendent, director of special education, a principal and a teacher.

Curtis received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and master’s degree from the University of Dayton.

Board President Steve Setty said Curtis stood out as one who has handled managing a school district as interim, as well as the transition to bringing in a new superintendent.

“I think he will do a great job of coming in and transitioning well with Norm and also transitioning well with the new superintendent” when he or she is selected, Setty said. “We are confident in the job he’s going to be able to do, to fulfill all the responsibilities we expect as a superintendent.”

Setty said the board did not want someone who would treat the position as a temporary assignment, but instead wanted the interim to work to improve the district in various areas.

“We were very clear that we don’t want a year of stagnation. We want a year of moving forward,” Setty said.

K-12 Business Consulting will assist the board with its permanent superintendent search. Setty said previously the board wants community and school input on the qualities sought in a permanent superintendent, and the board will craft a profile of the ideal candidate with that information. The search is expected to begin in October and conclude in March.