Leonora Noble will serve as interim principal of Crestwood Elementary for the remainder of the academic year, according to the Kent School District, as the search for a new principal continues.

Mike Halliday, a district spokesman, stated that the process of hiring a new principal for the school has been halted for now and will resume in spring.

“The situation is that she is going to be staying with us for the rest of the year,” he said. “We’re very happy with her and we’re very fortunate to have her there.”

Halliday said it was uncertain at this point what has prolonged the hiring process.

For Noble, the situation is a very familiar one. Three years ago, she served as the interim principal at Ridgetop Junior High in Central Kitsap, which was also having trouble hiring a new principal.

“It was a job share situation with another retiree hire,” she said. “It was the same thing. We had to do that for the entire year before they could advertise in the spring time.”

Noble was first named interim principal by the school board on Aug. 24 when it became apparent that they would not have a new principal hired by the beginning of school on Sept. 1.

“I said I would serve until they found their principal,” she said. “I’m a retired principal, so I have the time on my hands. I wanted to give them as much time as possible to advertise. My goal has always been to get this school on board and keep it moving in the same direction as the other schools in the district.”

So far, she said, Crestwood has been running smoothly.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” she said. “This community is amazing. I have one of those absolutely excellent PTAs…they are just so totally dedicated. The staff is the same way. They’re a group that is highly motivated to be led in a new direction and is willing to put the hard work in. It’s made my job a whole lot easier. It’s been a good experience for me.”

Noble received the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award in 1998 for her work at Lister Elementary Magnet School in the Tacoma School District.