The Rochester City School District has selected their new superintendent.

Terry Dade was chosen among four finalists in the running.

Dade was formerly an assistant superintendent for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia — a district with 180,000 students. Prior to that, Dade served one year as the executive principal for school improvement, and four years as a school principal at two elementary schools in the same district. He was also previously a teacher.

"My past experience being in the northern Virginia and D.C. area for the past 12 years is an indication of my intents to stay in the community over the long term," Dade said when he visited Rochester for a public forum last week.

A 6-1 vote in favor of Dade followed the Board of Education’s meeting Tuesday night.

“There is no way in the world Terry Dade does not understand the challenges, but I would also say the gifts and opportunities in this district, and he has spoken quite eloquently about those challenges and those opportunities,” says Rochester Board of Education President Van White. “This is not a person who is coming in here with blinders on his eyes.”

White says Dade proposed a retreat involving his new colleagues before stepping into his new role, in order to improve the district.

Dade has a signed contract to start on July 1.