Eastside Catholic School has hired a new president after searching for a replacement for more than a year.

Former president Mary Tracy resigned in January 2014, after the school made headlines for firing the former vice principal Mark Zmuda. Zmuda married his long-time, same-sex partner. This violated his contract with the school, as his marriage went against Catholic teachings and principles.

John Kennedy, bringing more than 25 years of school administrative experience to Eastside Catholic, will officially begin July 1. And, no, he’s not related to the Massachusetts Kennedys.

“It’s a rare opportunity to be part of such a strong educational program centered on the core values taught at Eastside Catholic,” he said.

Kennedy, a product of private, Catholic education, currently serves as assistant headmaster for finance and operations at Wakefield School, The Plains, Virginia. Previously he served as assistant head for institutional advancement for Middleburg Academy, formerly Notre Dame Academy.

He travelled to Eastside Catholic last week, sporting a tie representative of the school’s colors.

Kennedy is already brainstorming tasks and objectives in line with the school’s strategic plan.

As the school has grown, it’s in need of additional space, something Kennedy hopes to eventually provide. The school supports sixth through 12th grade, with nearly 1,000 students enrolled. It employs 120 faculty and staff members.

With the school’s upcoming 35th anniversary, Kennedy also wants to reach out to those who started it all.

“We have to reconnect with those who came before,” he said.

This year, students who were sixth-graders when the school opened in its $42 million campus in Sammamish in 2008, will graduate. The school was originally located in Bellevue.

Tom Lord will continue to act as interim president until Kennedy starts in July.