When the school year starts in Washington County next month, there may be a record number of new administrators in the county's districts, as new hires come in and veterans swap districts or schools.

Marietta

The most recent change to be approved was the resignation of Marietta High School Principal Mike Elliott, who will take over the assistant director job at the Washington County Career Center.

Elliott has been MHS principal for five years after serving as assistant principal there for two. He also served for four years as assistant principal at Marietta Middle School and taught in the district for seven years.

"I have mixed emotions because I've spent my entire career with Marietta City Schools," Elliott said. "But I'll still be a strong supporter. My kids are still in the district, and I'm leaving with no bad feelings. I've been very, very fortunate with my career in Marietta."

Elliott begins at the Career Center Aug. 3.

"I'm looking forward to still working with students," he said. "Now it will be not only Marietta students but students from all over Washington County."

The Marietta Board of Education voted Monday on Elliott's replacement at the high school, William Lee, a 30-year Ohio educator who recently retired from Cambridge City schools after 18 years there. Lee has a one-year contract with Marietta City Schools, at a salary of $75,000.

Lee will work this school year with another new hire at Marietta High School, Chad Rinard, who is taking over the position of assistant principal.

Rinard, most recently the principal of Frontier High School, replaces former Assistant Principal Mark Doebrich, who will be returning to a teaching position in the fall.

In other administrative changes in the district, longtime Putnam Elementary Principal Joe Finley will be back there this school year after spending one year as the principal of Phillips Elementary. Finley will be also be taking on some district administrative duties, partially replacing Director of Instruction Jenny Machir, who is leaving Marietta City Schools after 21 years.

"Phillips is a bigger school, so we couldn't ask (Finley) to take Phillips and part of (Machir's) work," said board President Jack Moberg.

Finley has a three-year contract and will make $84,000 a year in his new position.

Headed back to the lead position at Phillips Elementary is Steve Arnold, the former principal there who retired in 2006 and then returned to the district last year as the principal of Putnam Elementary.

Marietta students will also see a new face at Marietta Middle School. New Assistant Principal Ronald Rair, moving to the area from Youngstown, has been given a two-year contract.

Warren

The Warren Local district will have four new administrators this school year, with all but one local hires.

Belpre resident Tony Huffman, a former teacher in Wood County, will be the new Warren High School assistant principal, replacing Warren Carter, who retired.

Former Warren curriculum supervisor Barbara Augustine is replacing retired Little Hocking Elementary Principal Tom Ellsworth.

Bridget Stephens, who was the Barlow-Vincent Elementary assistant principal, will move into the curriculum supervisor position, and former Warren Elementary teacher Rebecca Johnson will be the new B-V assistant principal.

Longtime Florida educator Monica Cueto will be the new head of Warren Elementary, with former principal Shirley Cox returning to a teaching position.

Warren Superintendent Tom Gibbs said the district's new principals have already been attending meetings and training sessions to get acclimated.

There will be a district-wide administration meeting Aug. 4 that's "essentially an orientation" he said, and Warren's veteran principals have stepped up as advisers.

"(Barlow-Vincent Elementary Principal) Stephanie Starcher has really acted as a mentor and resource for them," Gibbs said. "She's unofficially our lead elementary principal."

Fort Frye

Fort Frye Local Schools will welcome a new Beverly-Center Elementary principal in the 2009-10 school year and a search is under way to fill a vacant Fort Frye High School assistant principal position.

The board had offered a contract to one candidate but he has since withdrawn his name, said Fort Frye Superintendent Matt Dill.

"We're back to square one," he said.

The district has hired a new Beverly-Center principal, Pamela Oliver, who most recently served as a regional literacy consultant for the State Support Team. She's also a former Marietta City Schools teacher.

"She's going to be a great asset to our district," Dill said. "When we interviewed her, there was no question. She has a brilliant knowledge of curriculum and an ability to lead. She stood out."

The upcoming school year will also mark the first full year on the job for Lowell and Salem-Liberty elementary schools principal Karen Kubota, who took over for Pat Taylor part way through the last school year.

Taylor will remain in the district as a teacher.

Frontier

Frontier officials have yet to name a replacement for Rinard as Frontier High School principal and are still searching for a new superintendent as well.

New Matamoras Elementary Principal Bill Wotring is one of three finalists for the superintendent position, which could leave another administrative spot open if he is selected.

Wolf Creek

Waterford Elementary students will have a new principal at their school this year but it's a familiar face in the district.

Former athletic director and Waterford High School teacher Doug Baldwin is taking over the position from John Hoff, who retired.