A long-time education veteran has been selected to serve at thehelm of Brookhaven Technical Center this year, district officialssaid Thursday.

Brookhaven Superintendent Dr. Sam Bounds announced Thursday thatJohnny Waller will fill the BTC director position left vacant whenSusan Chapman became the Brookhaven High School principal earlierthis month.

“I was proud to get the position. I see it as a challenge, onethat I don’t take lightly,” said Waller.

Waller, a Walthall County native, has spent the last 19 years inthe Brookhaven School District. He served the last six years asassistant principal at Lipsey Middle School.

“I truly believe he will be a great addition to and an intricatepart of the administration team of the Brookhaven School District,”said Bounds.

Waller graduated from Salem High School. He earned a bachelor’sdegree in social science education from Alcorn State University in1981 and a master’s degree from Jackson State University in1989.

He received his second master’s degree in May 2002 from JSU inschool administration.

Waller and his wife, Marilyn, have one son, Jay, a sixth graderat Lipsey Middle School. They are looking forward to the newchallenge that awaits Waller at BTC this year.

He complimented the work of his predecessors in building thevocational school to such a successful level.

“It’s already an outstanding program and my main goal is tomaintain and improve the program,” said Waller.