Kristen Haizlip will be the new principal of Bainbridge High School, officials with the Bainbridge Island School District announced Tuesday.

“I am thrilled with the opportunity to lead the Bainbridge High School community and look forward to building upon the important student-centered work that I have been a part of over the past four years,” she said.

Haizlip will take the helm from Duane Fish, who decided last month to leave the island to become the new principal at Arlington High School in Snohomish County.

Haizlip will step into her new role on July 1. She has been the associate principal at Bainbridge High for the past four years.

“As principal, Ms. Haizlip will bring her passion for supporting each and every student at BHS,” said Superintendent Peter Bang-Knudsen. “She is also well-skilled at supporting staff in their continued efforts toward excellence.”

District officials said one of Haizlip’s first moves as the new leader of BHS will be to conduct a “listening tour” to meet with staff, students and community members to hear perspectives and thoughts about BHS.

The outreach effort is expected to start in the late summer and go into the early fall.

Haizlip has a master’s degree in teaching from Seattle University and completed the University of Washington’s Danforth Educational Leadership Program.

She lives on Bainbridge Island with her husband and their three sons, who are in the fourth grade, second grade and preschool.

District officials said they were very impressed with the pool of candidates who applied for the position as BHS principal, but Haizlip was clearly the best fit for the job.

“She’s been an outstanding associate principal at BHS, and we can’t wait to see the great things she accomplishes in her new role,” Bang-Knudsen said.