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New leadership is underway at Big Lake Elementary School.

Brian Isakson, former Sedro-Woolley High School assistant principal, will assume his new responsibilities as principal in the fall.

Former Big Lake Principal Rob Guy left the position in June to serve as a science coach for the school district.

Isakson worked at Sedro-Woolley High School for 13 years. He taught science for seven of those years and spent the past six as an assistant principal.

He said he looks forward to being a principal. Although he wasn’t looking for a new post, he said when the position opened he felt it was the right time.

“I feel really ready to take on the new challenge,” Isakson said. “It’s a chance to branch out and grow a little bit.”

The Sedro-Woolley School Board approved Isakson for the position at the July 14 School Board meeting.

Sedro-Woolley School Board President Jim Kallio said he thinks Isakson did an “outstanding job at the high school” and has no doubt he will do well at Big Lake Elementary.

Isakson has great leadership skills and has the ability to gain respect from staff, students and parents, Kallio said.

“I hate to see him leave the high school since he’s done such a good job, but he’s ready to be a principal,” Kallio said. “He wants to be one and I’m glad we can keep him in the district.”

Big Lake Elementary has a good staff and supportive community, Isakson said. He said he’s excited to be a part of that.

He said he will be talking with staff and learning the “ins and outs” of the elementary school in order to gain a sense of its strengths and weaknesses.

Big Lake Elementary is already a great school and has the potential to be recognized as a “school of excellence,” Isakson said.

Making the transition from the high school to the elementary school will not be too different, he said. At Sedro-Woolley High School, Isakson worked with the school’s programs and curriculum instruction — similar to what he will be doing at Big Lake.

“Overall, it’s about working with people, developing relationships, trust and continuous improvement,” Isakson said.

The staff and students at Sedro-Woolley HIgh School will miss Isakson, said Mike Schweigert, the high school’s principal. He said Isakson is an organized, hard worker who works well with staff.

He has a good grasp of instruction and knows how to improve it, Schweigert said, those qualities will transfer well.

“I wish him all the best,” Schweigert said. “... He’s great to work with and also a great friend. I’m glad he’s staying in the district.”

Isakson said he will miss working with high school students because they are fun, unique and amazingly clever. The high school has a lot of excitement and buzz, he said, but the elementary school has a different kind of excitement.

“When you spend 13 years in a building you develop a lot of relationships — that’s the hard part about leaving,” Isakson said. “High school students are a fun age. I’ll definitely miss that.”