Laconia High School principal resigning in favor of home-town job

LACONIA — School Superintendent Bob Champlin announced yesterday that Steve Beals, principal of Laconia High School, has resigned to become principal at Alvirne High School in his hometown of Hudson and that he will be succeeded by Jim McCollum, the principal of Laconia Middle School, whose place will be taken by the principal of Elm Street School, Eric Johnson.

Beals, a former student and teacher at Alvirne, described his new position as "definitely a homecoming," adding that serving as principal of his alma mater was high on his "bucket list." In addition, since he lives in Hudson, he said that his commute will be reduced from an hour and a quarter to less than ten minutes and confessed that he has been encouraged to cycle or jog to work.

Reflecting on his five year tenure at Laconia, he placed the highest value on "my relationships with students, staff, parents and the community. I'm very thankful to the students and parents who embraced me and challenged me as well as to a very caring staff and the greater community."

Beals said that he was proud of contributing to reducing the drop-out rate and increasing the numbers of students completing school, which he explained was the work of dedicated teachers, who "understand that one size does not fit all and met the individual needs of their students."

Calling Champlin "a great mentor," Beals said that he will incorporate his "model of shared leadership" into his career. In particular, Beals noted that he has been "empowered to be teammate in the planning of improvements" at the high school, the renovation of the library, auditorium, cafeteria and health office and, above all, the forthcoming expansion of the Huot Technical Center and reconfiguration of the playing fields, which he called "gravy on top of mashed potatoes."

"We were very fortunate to have Steve with us as long as we did given his commute," Champlin said. "We've been very pleased with all he accomplished during his time with us."

McCollum will be returning to the high school, where he was assistant principal for three years between 2000 and 2003 before serving a two-year stint as principal of the Newfound Middle School before returning to Laconia to head the middle school. A native of Florida, he came to New Hampshire in 1994 after a spell as dean of students and athletic director at the Gold Coast Corporate Academy in West Palm Beach and spent six years as director of the Mount Washington Valley Academy in Conway.

Johnson, who was raised and educated in Minnesota, began his career in education in Arizona as a sixth grade teacher in Phoenix. He became dean of students and assistant principal of an inner city middle school before leaving the southwest for New England. During his five years at Elm Street the school has joined the ranks of the high performing and high growth schools in the state.

"We're more than colleagues,"Johnson remarked. "We're good friends."

"We lift weights together and our families get together," echoed McCollum. "With Eric at the middle school and me at the high school we will bring a six-to-twelve picture to the community."

"Continuity is important," added Johnson. "I have the experience of the elementary school. We'll work together to ease the transition for our students."

Meanwhile, Champlin said that a search committee will be formed at once to find a successor to Johnson at Elm Street School, which he said because of its high level of academic achievement would offer an attractive opportunity.