Bryan Station, Lexington Traditional Magnet and Tates Creek middle schools each have a new principal.

Henry Clay High School associate principal Lester Diaz is the new principal at Bryan Station Middle; Sharma Nachlinger, who had been associate principal at Leestown Middle, is now principal at LTMS; and Tates Creek associate principal Eric Thornsbury steps into the head job there. The appointments were announced Monday.

Diaz has 14 years of experience in education, including 10 years teaching at elementary, high school and college. He also served as dean of students at Lafayette High School before spending the past three years as associate principal at Henry Clay High. He holds a bachelor's degree in science education from Florida International University and two master's degrees from Eastern Kentucky University — one in sports management the other in educational leadership.

Nachlinger moved to Lexington in 2000. She has been a classroom teacher, instructional coach and associate principal. She earned her bachelor's degree in communications with an emphasis on public relations and a master's degree in elementary education, both from the University of Dayton, and a second master's degree from EKU.

Thornsbury has been with Fayette County for 10 years, including a year as dean of students at LTMS and four years as assistant principal at Tates Creek. He earned his bachelor's degree in learning and behavior disorders and middle school social studies from the University of Kentucky and his master's degree in instructional leadership and principal certification from EKU.

The principals were selected by the school-based councils at the respective schools made up of parents and teachers after input from school staff and the community.