Last night in an email to parents, Superintendent Richard Safier announced to families that English teacher James Cook will be the principal starting next year.

“Throughout the search process I have received numerous testimonials, from parents and students, alike, in support of Mr. Cook’s candidacy,” said Safier in his email to parents. “In a word, James is to be counted among the very best that Gloucester has to offer”

Cook, an English teacher and program leader of the English department at Gloucester High School, was offered the job over the weekend. There were fifteen candidates, and two other finalists for the position.

The other finalists were Deborah Holman, who previously worked as headmaster at Brookline High School, and Elizabeth Ann Taylor, who began working at Beverly High School in 1985 and became an assistant principal in 2007.

Before joining Gloucester High School in 1999, Cook taught for one year at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School and has headed the English department at GHS for the last three years.

“I’m really excited, Gloucester High School is such a special place in my life in many ways,” said Cook. “I learned a lot from previous generations of teachers and from current and past administrators so I feel there’s a real legacy to continue and take care of this place to be the best it can be for the next generation of students.”