After a tumultuous fall at Charlottesville High School that included multiple student brawls, a teacher walkout the Friday before Thanksgiving, and the resignation of its principal, the city schools have hired a new permanent principal from within the city school system.

Current Jackson-Via Elementary School Principal Justin Malone will step into the head role at CHS on July 1. It won’t be Malone’s first experience at CHS; he served as assistant principal at the high school from 2013 to 2017.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Malone back to CHS,” said Charlottesville City Schools Superintendent Royal A. Gurley in a press release announcing the hire. “In a strong field of applicants, he stood out for his administrative and interpersonal skills, combined with his deep understanding of our community and commitment to academic excellence.”

Problems at the school erupted into public view in the weeks leading up to the Thanksgiving break, prompting teachers to speak out about the troubling school culture and administrators and the school board to host multiple public hearings to address concerns. In November, city schools named former CHS Principal Kenneth Leatherwood as interim principal.

Malone, who as served as Jackson-Via’s principal since 2017, expressed enthusiasm and optimism about the school and his new position, which he’ll assume on July 1.

“I am honored to return to Charlottesville High School,” Malone said in a statement. “I know what makes CHS such a special and thriving school and I am committed to sharing with our students, our staff, and our community what makes CHS a safe and successful place. My previous experience at CHS and all of my years working in Charlottesville City Schools have me prepared and excited to begin this important work.”

According to the release, Malone served as a special education teacher, a special education coordinator, and an elementary and middle school assistant principal in Greene County before coming to Charlottesville schools. He holds a B.S. and M.S. from Old Dominion University and earned his Doctorate in Education from the University of Virginia. Additionally, Dr. Malone has served as a doctoral advisor and adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University.