Former Hall County Schools administrator Stan Lewis has been selected to take over as principal of Johnson High School for the 2011 academic year.

The Hall County Schools Board of Education approved Superintendent Will Schofield’s recommendation Monday.

Lewis spent five years as assistant principal at Chestatee High School before leaving four years ago to become principal of Adairsville High School in Bartow County.

“We’re just really excited about bringing him and his family back to Hall County,” Schofield said.

Lewis will fill the position being vacated by Damon Gibbs, who on June 1 will become the school system’s full-time director of projects being funded by the 1-cent special purpose local option sales tax.

Lewis, a Lumpkin County native, said he’s excited for the opportunity to return to Hall County where he hopes to build on Johnson High School’s academic excellence and continue strengthening students’ character.

“I want them to feel engaged, not just in the classroom, but I want them to feel engaged in the fact that that’s their home.

They belong there and they make that school what it is,” he said. “I want them to take pride in it.”
Schofield said Lewis was selected from about 35 candidates.

“He’s a tremendous people person,” Schofied said. “He’s mission driven. He’s in it for the right reasons. He loves kids, but he’s willing to make the touch decisions.”

Hall County Schools spokesman Gordon Higgins said Lewis was constantly thirsty for knowledge in his previous time with the school system and always tried to improve himself so he could better serve his school. Lewis also was athletic director at Chestatee, and Higgins said he showed great skill in supporting students and parents in that capacity.

“He’s a very affable person, a very outgoing person,” Higgins said. “He’s very much family oriented and I just think he’s going to be a tremendous fit to Johnson High School.”