DEERFIELD TWP. — With a success poster, bell schedule and football schedule hanging in his office, Thomas Higgins is busy preparing for his first year as Kings High School principal.

        Today is the first day at Kings Local Schools, and Mr. Higgins' first encounter with many of the school's 1,050 students. He officially started Aug. 1.

Higgins

        “The biggest challenge will be getting acclimated with students and getting to know them,” Mr. Higgins said. “When the kids get here, it's facing the daily challenges — that's what makes it interesting.”

        The former Aiken High School principal's immediate plans center on getting a smooth start to the school year. He already has implemented a time-card procedure for staff to report to work.

        In the long term, he'll focus on building programs on a strong academic base and high expectations for all students.

        He expects any changes to be gradual.

        “When you build a solid curriculum and you run a disciplined environment, then you don't have to make a change every month to be successful,” he said. “There's a core here that's proven to be successful. I just want to keep it going in the same direction.”

        The 55-year-old Fairfield resident was given a two-year contract and makes $84,537. He was selected from a pool of 25 candidates.

        Mr. Higgins replaces Erick Cook, who was named interim principal after the midyear retirement of Doug King. Mr. Cook is now principal at South Lebanon Elementary.

        Mr. Higgins, who started teaching in 1968, spent the past four years as Aiken's principal, where he addressed discipline issues as well as reading and literacy.

        Before that he was a teacher, athletic director and assistant principal at Western Hills High School.

        He said the decision to leave Cincinnati Public Schools was difficult, but was made in part because of a district plan to divide larger high schools into smaller specialty schools, each with their own principals, that are located together on one campus. He said he did not see himself fitting in that model.

        “I couldn't see myself staying if I didn't have full confidence,” Mr. Higgins said.

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