Timothy Joynt shouldn't have any problems finding his way around Shorewood.
Not only did he receive his master's degree at neighboring University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, his older brothers are well acquainted with the area and could assist him if he needs any help.
Joynt, who is leaving his post as principal at Waukesha South for an administrative role with the Shorewood School District next month, is making it a family tradition of working in Shorewood.
His second oldest brother, Michael, is a first-year principal at Shorewood Intermediate School, while the oldest Joynt, Matt, previously served as principal of Shorewood High School. Matt has since moved north to work as an assistant superintendent of educational services in the Mequon-Thiensville School District.
Timothy's other brother, Nate, is also involved in education. He was an elementary school principal in Grafton before he began pursuing his doctorate in curriculum and instruction.
Timothy Joynt said it was just happenstance that he too landed in the Shorewood School District as he advances in the education profession.
"It was just a coincidence I ended up in Shorewood," the youngest Joynt said. "It's a promotion for me. I went through a thorough process in choosing Shorewood."
As the director of instruction in Shorewood, he said he will help in curriculum development, professional development for teachers and student assessment.
"It's a high achievement district in Greater Milwaukee, and this job helps me in my advancement," said Timothy Joynt, who added he is also in the process of working on his doctorate. "I'm happy for the opportunity."
Timothy Joynt heads to a district that is one of the highest-scoring districts in composite average ACT each year.
But he leaves South having seen the district raise its average ACT score by one point from 21.3 to 22.3 in the last year, a significant gain and something he is extremely proud of.
"I have a lot of trust in the students and staff that they will continue to do good things," Timothy Joynt said. "There is really good leadership at Waukesha South. I'd put any of our teachers up against any in the Waukesha School District."
Timothy Joynt's last day as South's principal is Jan. 22. He starts his new job in Shorewood Jan. 25. He said it will be difficult to leave "such a good place" in Waukesha South.
After serving one year as an assistant principal at Waukesha South, he was promoted to the school's principal in 2012. Before coming to Waukesha, Timothy Joynt was a physics teacher at Oak Creek High School.
"I told the staff (at South) it's a bittersweet moment," said Timothy Joynt, who has a master's degree in educational administration. "But it's an opportunity that was tough to pass up for me."
Superintendent Todd Gray said the district is in the process of looking for an interim principal to finish the school year.
"We have some candidates, but we have not signed anyone yet," he said.
The district will post the principal's position later in January, Gray said. The principal selected to take over on a full-time basis will start in July.
"It's not the easiest to make a transition during the middle of the school year," Timothy Joynt said, "but I don't think it's ever easy when you leave a job."