A longtime high school principal has announced his retirement.

Richard Gill, who has been principal of West Forsyth High since the school opened, said he would retire effective today.

In a statement, Forsyth County Superintendent Buster Evans said he would recommend to the school board that Betty Pope serve as acting West principal.

"Ms. Pope is a respected educator in our district with experience that includes work at North Forsyth High School, South Forsyth High School and the past four years at West Forsyth High School, where she has been largely involved in the planning and implementation of a quality learning environment," Evans said.

The school chief commended Gill for his service to the system and its students.

"The leadership that Mr. Gill has provided in our district has been impressive, particularly as he worked to establish WFHS as an outstanding school in Georgia," Evans said.

"I wish to commend Mr. Gill for his work and wish him the very best as he transitions into retirement and future life opportunities."

Gill has worked as an educator for some 30 years, with more than two decades of that time in Forsyth.

He began his career with the local school system in 1989 as a counselor and coach at South Forsyth High.

His administrative career started as an assistant principal when North Forsyth High opened.

In 2001, he was named principal of South and then in 2007 opened West, which has grown to one of the largest high schools in the system.

Pope has been with Forsyth County Schools for more than three decades.

She has worked as a teacher and coach at Forsyth Central High and the then-South Forsyth Junior High.

She has served as an assistant principal since 1994 at North, South and West high schools.

Evans said Pope has the needed experience to lead West.

"We are confident that [she] and the strong and experienced leadership team at WFHS will continue to build the tradition of excellence with which this school has come to be recognized for," he said.