More than two months ago, Clinton County High School celebrrated the graduation of the Class of 2015.

With the transition of more than 100 young adults from students to alumni, the end of an era for one group of people paved the way for the beginning of yet another senior class at Clinton County High School.

In addition to having a new crop of seniors walking the halls at the high school, there will also be a new principal at the head position.

As of press time, that person has yet to be named, however, former C.C.H.S. Principal Sheldon Harlan has moved and is looking forward to his new position, just right across the street from his old position.

Early last week, Harlan was hired as Principal at the Early Childhood Center (ECC).

Tina Langford announced her retirement last year at the ECC after being principal for four and a half years.

“I decided I was going to retire when I had my 27 years of service in,” Langford said. “I was a teacher for 22 and a half years before taking the principal position. I’ve had the opportunity to work with many great administrators as a principal and as a teacher. I loved being a teacher and having the opportunity to help students and make many relationships with them. That has been my life and I will miss it.”

Harlan has spent the last 12 years at the high school, six as an assistant principal and six as principal.

“Its good to have fresh eyes and fresh ideas,” Harlan said. “The time issue was one of the biggest issues I had. The job at the high school is a 50, 60, 70 hour a week job. With my kids becoming more involved in things, I was missing too much of that. For the next 10 years I will have a child at the high school, so I will be around as a parent and a fan and as a supporter, but I will get to sit in the stands and watch instead of work. I’m looking forward to that.”

Harlan has basically gone from one end of the spectrum to the other as far as his students are concerned.

At the high school, students were nearing the end of their education in Clinton County. Now, he is there for the beginning for students.

“You have to get them ready for the next level and in a sense that’s what we did over there (high school). It’s just a different level. I’m not sure, but this level may be as important as it is over there,” Harlan said. “The work that educators do is priceless. I’m excited to be on this end of it.”

Harlan said it’s going to be a little different for him in the beginning, but he said he is up for the challenge.

“I know the first six to eight weeks are going to be a challenge. Getting to know the rules and regulations are completely different, so it will take a while to learn it all,” Harlan said.

Harlan said, even though he hasn’t been in the position for very long, he can already tell he has a great staff at his new post.

“They are great to work with,” Harlan said. “It doesn’t matter what I think needed to be done, we have good conversations and they just go at it. I really think I’m going to enjoy it. Change is good sometimes.”

Harlan has done some observing at ECC when he was principal at the high school and one thing that will be a big difference from the high school and the ECC, other than the size of the students, is the sheer size of everything at the school.

“It was always fun for me to come to the ECC from the high school. I just couldn’t believe it … it’s a completely different world,” Harlan said. “Just the size alone … everything. From the size of the classroom furniture, cafeteria furniture and the water fountains. I was nervous, and I’ll be nervous for a while because they are so small, but I’ve got kids of my own. I’m not worried that I can’t handle it. It will just be different.”

Harlan said he will miss being at the high school, but he is excited about this new chapter in his career.

“I will miss the staff, and the students at the high school,” Harlan said.

Before Harlan was assistant principal at the high school, he was a teacher for five years. With 17 years on the job in one building, a change is somewhat bittersweet.

“That’s the only building I’ve worked in. When you are there for so long you get close to people,” Harlan said. “They become your second family. In a lot of ways I was with them more than I was my own family. You get close to the staff and I will miss them, but I’m sure I will grow close to the staff here. They are good people. I look forward to it.”

One aspect of Harlan’s job at the high school was the extracurricular activities, and once schools starts, sporting events and other activities kept him busy after school hours.

“Some of it stays, like the council meetings and things like that, but the 16 different sports teams and all the other after school activities go away,” Harlan said. “We will have some after school things where the kids will do stuff for the parents, and we will still have kindergarten graduation.”

In a special call meeting, Superintendent Charlotte Bernard confirmed the hiring of retired educator Joan DeForest as interim principal at the high school. More information on that meeting can be found in a separate article on page 1.

After a five-year stretch as Principal at Clinton County High School, Sheldon Harlan will keep the title, but move his deskplate across U.S. 127 to the Early Childhood Center.