For the past 21 years, Lennon Brown has started the academic year welcoming back students of Highland High School as their principal.

This year, he will welcome all students back to the Anderson Community School Corp. as their new assistant superintendent.

“I’m going to miss what I do, but I will find creative ways to involve students in my life,” he said. “I will find a way to link with the kids. That’s just what I love to do.”

Nancy Farley, former principal at Eastside Elementary, will also be experiencing “student withdrawal” as she begins the year as the new director of transportation and Title I.

“This is the first time in 30 years I will not be directly connected to children,” she said. “I’m looking forward to the new challenges, though. I will miss the children a lot, but hopefully I will be able to be around them when I go out during arrivals and departures to help. That will give me my ‘kid fix.’”

According to Mikella Lowe, interim superintendent, the Anderson Community Schools system is experiencing several administrative changes for this school year.

“When (Dr. Tim Long, former superintendent) resigned, the board asked me to be interim superintendent and said they understand administration changes are necessary,” said Lowe. “I began to look at the existing staff. Once I asked (Brown) to be the assistant superintendent, that created the domino effect.”

Lowe said everyone involved has been very cooperative and expressed excitement about their new positions. “We have a great staff and I’m very pleased with administrators who were asked to change jobs.”

For Brown, he said the move has been a personal goal he has held for himself for quite a while, but felt the transition was quick. “The way this all happened wasn’t the normal process,” he said. “I love what I do, though.”

Former Assistant Principal Mark Finger has stepped into the new principal role at Highland. Brown said Lowe couldn’t have picked a better individual.

“I feel Mr. Finger is an excellent choice to take over,” said Brown. “He’s a very capable individual and always puts the kids first. His heart is in the right place. He’s going to do a heck of a job.”

Finger, who held the assistant principal position for 10 years, said he feels very good, honored and validated to have the trust of Brown and Lowe.

“It’s a job I’ve been hoping to get at some point,” said Finger. “It’s where I want to be — at Highland High School. I was elated.”

With students returning Monday morning, Lowe said all administration staff positions have been filled and that all the building principals and teachers are on track and ready to start out the new year. “Everybody’s in place,” she said.