President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Federal Reserve has ties to upstate New York.

Kevin Warsh graduated from Shaker High School in 1988, the North Colonie Central School District said Friday, the same day the president said he will nominate Warsh as the next chair of the Fed.

Warsh, 55, would replace Jerome Powell, whose term expires in May. Warsh is now a fellow at the Hoover Institution and lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

“I have known Kevin for a long period of time, and have no doubt that he will go down as one of the GREAT Fed Chairmen, maybe the best,” Trump posted on his Truth Social site.

Linda Harrison, Warsh’s high school history teacher who now serves as president of the district’s school board, called him a thoughtful, confident and independent thinker.

“It was clear during Kevin’s time at Shaker that he was a highly motivated and ambitious student who would go on to do great things. I believe someone taking one of the highest political offices in this country should have a deep understanding of our nation’s history, as well as world history, and Kevin has both,” Harrison said. “I have every confidence that Kevin has the intellect, experience, and integrity to serve the American people in the way they deserve.”

The appointment requires U.S. Senate confirmation.

Warsh served as a member of the a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 2006 to 2011. Prior to that, Warsh worked as an economic aide in George W. Bush’s administration and was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley.

Harrison called Warsh’s nomination a monumental moment for him and a point of pride for the North Colonie district.

“His appreciation and understanding of history made him one of the best students I had in my 35 year teaching career,” she said. “Kevin comes from a wonderful family, who was very supportive of his academic career in our district. He has a true appreciation for and loyalty to the people who have supported him over his lifetime, and I am grateful to be one of those people.”

Trump chose Powell to lead the Fed in 2017, but Powell has been under fire from Trump during the president’s second term for not cutting interest rates quickly enough.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.