After six years as top administrator for Kings Local Schools, Dr. Valerie Browning announced on Tuesday that she has been hired by the Pickerington School District near Columbus, Ohio.

Pickerington Schools, in Fairfield and Franklin counties, is significantly larger than Kings. As the 15th largest school district in Ohio, Pickerington has more than 10,000 students educated within two high schools, two junior-highs, three middle schools, and seven elementaries. According to its website, the district demographics are 64 percent white, 20.5 percent black, 5 percent Hispanic.

On Monday night, the Pickerington School board approved a five-year contract for Browning, starting Aug. 1. According to published reports, she will earn $143,300 a year as Pickerington’s superintendent.

“Dr. Browning’s track record in supporting high student achievement, and her overall experience as a teacher and administrator, made her a strong candidate from the beginning,” said Dr. Jim Brink, Pickerington Board President. “We believe she has the expertise to work with the board, the staff, and the community to establish an exemplary vision and direction for our future.”

In a comment to the Columbus Dispatch, Browning said, “Obviously Pickerington is a bigger district that presents new and bigger challenges in my next step as a superintendent … One of the things we’ll face is how do we keep a high-achieving district like Pickerington moving forward … to keep innovating.”

In an announcement to the Kings Community Tuesday morning, Browning, 50, said she has enjoyed her six years at Kings.

“We have all worked hard to move the district forward and I know that hard work will continue. Thank you for your friendships and support!”

Browning said her resignation from Kings will be effective July 31.