Dr. Marsha Denton has been named the new principal at Thomas Jefferson High School, ending a turbulent few weeks following the departure of Dr. Mark Marshall.

Denton was approved as the new principal unanimously at a work study meeting on Tuesday. After her approval, Denton introduced herself briefly with a thank you for the board.

In April, Marshall left for a job at the Eastside Union School District in Lancaster, Calif., about 70 miles north of Los Angeles. Although the school district knew in April about his planned departure, Marshall left earlier than the school district had anticipated.

On May 4, the district announced that Grant Hosford would serve as interim principal at TJHS. Hosford wasn’t currently working in the district when he was named, but had in the past. He had also worked at Lincoln High School in Tacoma and Spanaway Lake High School in the Bethel School District before retiring.

Hosford will serve through the remainder of this school year. Denton’s contract will go into effect on July 1.

Hosford hasn’t applied for another full-time assignment in the district, but it’s not unusual for retired principals to make themselves available for short-term assignments such as the situation at TJHS, said spokeswoman Deb Stenberg.

Denton is a native from Nashville, Tenn., and moved to the Seattle area in 2001. She completed her doctorate work in curriculum and instruction.

This summer, she will be teaching a differentiated instruction course — the ability to use different teaching methods to meet individual needs — at Seattle Pacific University. She has worked in the Seattle Pacific University College of Education since 2008.

In the past, Denton has worked in the Issaquah School District, first as the director of assessment and research, then as the assistant principal at Liberty High School, a position she has held since 2006.

Denton was a classroom teacher for 15 years and an adjunct university professor for 13 years.

Denton has some national credentials. She has worked with the National Council for the Accreditation of Teachers and Education, a group that provides accreditation to colleges of education across the country.