An education administrator who has led the Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans school districts has been named interim schools superintendent in Bridgeport.

Paul Vallas starts Jan. 1 in the position, which will last up to a year.

He will receive the same $229,000 annual salary as his predecessor, John Ramos, whose contract was terminated by the board appointed under a state takeover of the district. That board approved Vallas' appointment Tuesday.

The Connecticut Post reports Vallas recently worked on new Connecticut Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor's transition team.

Vallas says they met when Vallas worked in New Orleans to rebuild its schools after Hurricane Katrina, and again when both were volunteering in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

Vallas also ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Illinois governor in 2001.