COAL GROVE — When Steve Easterling was named superintendent of Dawson-Bryant Schools, it left the high school without a principal. That vacancy lasted less than a week.

Dean Mader, a 2000 graduate of Dawson-Bryant and 10-year teacher, was named Easterling’s replacement by the board of education at its most recent meeting.

“I’m excited,” Mader said. “It’s great to have the chance to lead such a great school.”

Having the opportunity to continue working with Easterling is also something Mader sees as beneficial.

“Having Mr. Easterling to talk with definitely helps,” he said. “He was my principal when I was in middle and high school. So, I took over as principal for my former principal.”

Mader admits that being hired into the position of principal so close to the beginning of the school year has caused the transition to be somewhat hectic.

“With this late of a jump my plan is to continue moving forward with the current things we have going on,” Mader said. “Mr. Easterling left the school in a good place and I am going to build on that and maybe look at doing some other things once I get my feet wet.”

Mader has spent the past eight years as a teacher at Dawson-Bryant.