Jason Miller spent 16 months in what he called a principal’s ideal situation with his Lenoir County Early College High School students, but the ultimate offer came before him — and he couldn’t pass it up.
Friday was Miller’s last day as Early College principal. He will start his new job as the director of Greene County’s Lenoir Community College campus next week.
Nick Harvey, current principal at Rochelle Middle School, was selected to fill Miller’s spot. Harvey will finish the school year at Rochelle while Pam Heath, a retired North Lenoir High School assistant principal, serves as an interim principal at Early College.
“Every child here who knows Nick Harvey was thrilled to death when it was announced he would be the principal here,” Miller said. “He wants what’s right for kids and that is the first and foremost important thing that an administrator can possess.”
Working in public education 13 years, and being a principal for eight, Miller often wondered what his next educational post would be. The Greene County slot opened much sooner than he expected.
He told the 175 Early College students one class at a time, stressing he didn’t seek to leave the school.
“When it came up, I just didn’t think I could pass it,” Miller said of the director job. “In reflecting on what I wanted to do in the future, I thought the community college would be a better fit for me. When (the position) came open, I figured I had to move now because I didn’t know when the opportunity might be available again.”
Miller recognized that he has 17 years to retirement. While he said Early College has been an unmatched opportunity, he couldn’t refuse giving back to his hometown of Snow Hill.
He graduated from Greene Central High School and went on to ECU to earn Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education.
“I very much have a vested interest in Greene County,” said Miller, calling himself a lifelong resident of the area. “That’s where my family is, that’s where my friends are; that’s the community that’s always been very good to me.”
In his new position, where he will oversee everything from educational programming to personnel, Miller will be able to make an impact on the economic growth of Greene County.
He said when he and LCC President Brantley Briley discussed what the Greene County campus lacked, they concurred local needs weren’t being 100 percent fulfilled since so many people were unaware of the campus’ programs.
Briley asked Miller if he was interested in the position several weeks ago. Miller said his preparations for director were simplified by what he called a competent staff already in place at the campus in Snow Hill.
He won’t be working with students in the same capacity as a director and said the Early College students are the “best in the world” because of their youthful ambition.
“For me, he made me do stuff that otherwise I wouldn’t have done and it was actually stuff I enjoyed doing,” said junior Shane Howard, citing a quiz bowl competition. “He’d walk around and make sure that everyone was happy with what they were doing.”
Miller said the size of Early College allowed him to develop a personal relationship with each of the students, gaining the teens’ trust by honoring his commitments to them.
“He’s the kinds of person that if he said he was going to do something, he’d always follow through,” said Sarah Wall, English teacher. “I really admired his dedication and his organizational skills.”
Miller organized a series of folders for Heath when she arrives.
Miller said, laughing, “I’m laying out a how-to booklet; all she’s going to have to do is follow directions.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.