FRAMINGHAM — An administrator at Potter Road Elementary School with prior experience in the classroom will be the school’s new principal.

Superintendent Robert Tremblay announced Friday that Potter Road Assistant Principal Larry Wolpe will take over the top position at the elementary school next academic year.

Wolpe, one of three finalists for the job, has been an assistant principal at Potter Road since 2012. He previously taught at Stapleton Elementary School in Framingham, and holds a master’s degree in elementary education from Lesley University, according to an announcement from the school district.

“Larry’s knowledge of Potter Road Elementary School, his steadfast and obvious commitment to the Potter Road, and larger Framingham, community — inclusive of the parents, the staff, and, most importantly, the children — made him the obvious choice for leadership at Potter Road Elementary School,” Tremblay said in an announcement.

Wolpe began sharing administrative duties at Potter Road this month with outgoing principal Paula Del Prete, who will retire at the end of the year. During her remaining time in the district, Del Prete is serving in a new role as both principal of Potter Road and a traveling “mentor principal” in other schools.

Wolpe takes over during a period of change for Potter Road, which is set to launch a new dual language education program. Beginning during the 2018-2019 school year, students entering kindergarten and first grade will receive lessons in a combination of Portuguese and English.

Close to 43 percent of students in Framingham’s 14 public schools speak a first language other than English, according to state data. That number is slightly higher at Potter Road, where about 45 percent of the roughly 500 students enrolled in the Northside school are learning English.

With a sizable population of Brazilian immigrants living in Framingham, Portuguese is among the most common languages spoken in local schools, followed by Spanish.

“Larry’s openness to feedback, his willingness to learn and reflect, and his inclination to immerse himself in the Two-Way Program showcased the vision of a leader,” Tremblay said, adding the district will support him in this “next chapter.”

The two other finalists for the principal job were Anne Diaz, assistant principal at the Athol Community Elementary School in Athol; and Elizabeth Garden, principal at Florence Roche Elementary School in Groton. The school district invited teachers and parents to meet with Wolpe, Diaz and Garden during a pair of forums on Jan. 18.

Jim Haddadin can be reached at 617-863-7144 or jhaddadin@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter: @JimHaddadin