Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School will embark on a search for a new principal in the coming weeks after administrators announced principal Sara Dingledy is transitioning into a new role in the public school system.

Ms. Dingledy, who was hired as the high school principal in 2016, will be the district’s first curriculum, instruction and operations coordinator, superintendent Richard Smith said at the regional high school meeting on Thursday.

The role, created by the all-Island school committee, will work in the central administration office and seeks to expand the oversight at the elementary school level, while also helping support instruction at the secondary level.

“A key focus will be ensuring smooth transition for students from fifth to sixth grade, or from elementary to secondary, and again, from elementary schools, or eighth grade, to the high school,” Mr. Smith said.

Ms. Dingledy, who moved to the Vineyard from Westchester Square Academy, has spent the last nine years in the high school, and her background will be crucial in this new role, Mr. Smith said.

Ms. Dingledy started at the regional high school in 2016.

Maria Thibodeau

Ms. Dingledy started at the regional high school in 2016.

Maria Thibodeau

“She has a deep expertise in curriculum, instruction, assessment and data-drive analysis, and I am very confident that Sara will be a really strong asset in supporting our work and doing that work alongside Megan Farrell, our assistant superintendent,” he said.

The announcement comes late in the school year, which Mr. Smith acknowledged could make it difficult to find a replacement before the first school bell rings in the fall. To that end, Ms. Dingledy has agreed to stay on as principal while a search commences.

“Richie and I are super committed to making it a really thoughtful transition,” Ms. Dingledy said Thursday. “I’m prepared for whatever it is. I’m here to serve the school here, to serve the committee and the Island.”

She believed the new position was needed, and didn’t want the timing of the hiring process to stand in the way of progress for the district.

“My timing is going to be beholden to the process and to what’s best for the school,” she said. “I want to make sure people have assurances.”

The transition will also take place as the district considers options for upgrading the aging school, whether it be a major renovation or a totally new school building.

Mr. Smith said that he would use this time to get a deeper understanding of the issues facing students and staff at the school.

“I don’t want the high school staff and students to feel as if they have lost their leader without a direction moving forward,” he said.

Staff at the high school were notified of the leadership change on Wednesday. Some were surprised and were concerned about the timing.

“Running a search this late is going to be a challenge and I acknowledge that,” Mr. Smith said. “I don’t want to keep an opportunity from happening because of timing.”

The high school principal role may be the hardest job in the district, Mr. Smith said, and a yet-to-be-formed search committee will consider current principals, other Island educational leaders and off-Island candidates.

Mr. Smith hoped to have a new principal announced by mid-July if the search goes well, but if necessary Ms. Dingledy could continue to helm the school for the next school year. Mr. Smith also raised the potential of hiring a two-year interim principal to balance the need for solid leadership at the high school with a thorough search process.

A final hiring decision falls to the superintendent, but Mr. Smith said he planned to create a large search committee to garner feedback.

School officials and staff praised Ms. Dingledy’s work at the high school, and were glad to see her continue to work in the district. Her arrival in 2016 came after a period of turnover at the regional high school, when the previous principal had resigned after barely a year on the job.

“I think this community has had a real solid leadership for nine years,” said Sam Hart, the coordinator of Pathways and special projects. “I wish we had nine more, but we’re all very excited by this and happy for her.”