It happened every year. You would go back to school still in a haze from all of your summer exploits to find that everyone you haven't seen for a few months is still there and still the same. And then you noticed the new guy and you wondered who is that? Well, The Journal has taken the guesswork out of one incident of "new guy" curiosity. Meet your new High School Principal, Ron Chiasson.

Though Ron Chiasson is a new addition to The Ellenville School District as its high school's new principal, he is no stranger to the area. Originally hailing from Orange, Massachusetts, Chiasson started his career as an English teacher just up the road in Kingston. He spent fifteen years there as he taught in both the middle and high school. During his tenure, Chiasson thought about moving into administration so he went back to school. "I thought I didn't want to be an administrator but I wanted to try something different. [So] I went back for my Master's degree in counseling from Western Connecticut University."

After that, Chiasson went to work for the Highland School District as a guidance counselor where he spent the next thirteen years. But again, Chiasson found himself with a desire to try something different. So… "I went back to school and earned my Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) from SUNY-New Paltz."

He then worked in Carmel where he was an assistant principal in charge of 1600 students. And now Ron Chiasson comes to Ellenville and he couldn't be more excited. He found it ironic that the one part of academia he had avoided, administrating, had turned out to be the most enjoyable. "Having taught, guidance counseled, and administrated, I would say I am having the most fun as an administrator. And I am really thrilled to be in Ellenville. I did a lot of research on my own and I think there is a dedicated group of people working here. I am also very happy with the small town aspect to it [Ellenville] – particularly coming from this huge school [Carmel]."

Chiasson went on to say that Ellenville offered him the chance to do certain things that his previous job really could not allow. "You're more into the people in a smaller school. It's not just numbers. It's names and stories and families and history and I like that. In a huge school, no matter how hard you try, you never get to know everybody. I am certain I will get to know more kids here. I'll get to know the students and their families."

As for his plans for the future, Chiasson offered his strategy, "I plan to ask a lot of people three questions. "What do we do well in Ellenville? What are some areas that we can improve? And how can I help?" Chiasson says he plans on speaking with students, parents, teachers, and other community members so that he may, "hear their concerns and help make a difference to make things better."

Asked about his previous experiences as a teacher and counselor, Chiasson referred to his different jobs as "previous lives" that he will use to inform all of his decisions and interactions with the Ellenville School District.

But does he miss teaching? Chiasson replied, "I have been in the classroom. I know some of their frustrations and difficulties. I know the joys of it. Recently, I had 14 or 15 students that I took on a trip to Washington D.C. And we all quickly bonded over the course of a few days. You miss the connections you make with the kids and that was illustrated to me so clearly." But Chiasson made it clear that he would not give up his current job. "The one thing I never thought I wanted to do – administrating, is the thing that I have enjoyed the most."

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