PENDLETON — Thirty-two people applied to be the new assistant superintendent and head of secondary curriculum and college and career readiness at the South Madison Community School Corp.

And Mark Hall, the principal at Pendleton Heights High School, was the best candidate, Superintendent Joe Buck said.

“I believe (Mark) Hall’s education, experience and performance will serve him well in the position of assistant superintendent,” Buck said in an email to The Times-Post.

Hall, 43, has been hired to replace Sandra Hudson, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

In his many duties as assistant superintendent, Hall will set curriculum at the high school to help students prepare for college or the workforce.

Hall has 21 years of educational experience including the past 16 years in South Madison schools, where his résumé runs deep.

He started as an assistant principal and athletic director at Pendleton Middle School in 2002. In 2006, he moved on to assistant principal at Pendleton Heights High School; in 2010, he moved up to principal.

Hall said he’s proud of many accomplishments throughout his time at the high school — most recently, the Indiana Department of Education has named Pendleton Heights a Four Star School and a Performance Qualified High School, both state testaments of quality education and instruction.

Hall, a graduate of Delta High School, comes from a family of educators. His father was a superintendent, and his brother is a principal in the Westfield-Washington school district.

Prior to coming to the South Madison district, Hall spent five years in the classroom, teaching technology education.

While he enjoyed being a teacher, working in athletics and leading the high school, he continued to pursue further education, which has led him to his new position.

In addition to a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology education and a master of arts degree in supervision and administration, Hall earned his education specialist degree in school superintendency and just earned his doctoral degree at Ball State University.

“I’ve just been really fortunate in my career how opportunities have opened up,” Hall said.

Hall said he feels blessed to be able to reach his professional goals within the South Madison school district, calling the corporation a “hidden gem” in the state.

“This is a pretty unique place, and also being a high-performing district in central Indiana makes it really special,” Hall said.

He said he also feels fortunate to work with a superintendent like Buck, whom he said has character and a work ethic he brings to work each day.

“I’ve actually learned quite a bit from him through the years,” Hall said.

District leaders plan to announce Hall’s replacement in June.