MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL MAY HAVE A NEW PRINCIPAL- BUT THE MAN BEHIND THE TITLE IS NO STRANGER TO VICTORIA.
GREG CROCKETT STARTED AS A TEACHER AT JUAN LYNN ELEMENTARY IN 1990.
HE WENT TO CUERO FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS - BUT QUICKLY CAME BACK TO VISD- WHEN A JOB OPENED UP.
     STARTING THIS SCHOOL YEAR- CROCKETT WAS THE ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL OF THE SENIOR CAMPUS- BUT AFTER THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE FORMER PRINCIPAL DR. MICHAEL MAPLES- FORCED MAPLES TO RESIGN- THE JOB WAS LEFT OPEN.
     AT THURSDAY NIGHT'S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING - THE BOARD NAMED CROCKETT THE NEW PRINCIPAL- A MOMENT FULL OF EMOTION FOR CROCKETT.
"Nervousness, excitement. Looking forward to the opportunity. I've lived in Victoria for 21 years- It's been an opportunity I've been looking forward to and so now I'm very excited about it," said Greg Crockett, MHS Principal.
     AND LOOKING AROUND HIS NEW OFFICE - YOU CAN SEE HOW EXCITED THE COMMUNITY IS TO HAVE A NEW SCHOOL LEADER.
CROCKETT SAYS HE'S RECEIVED NUMEROUS E-MAILS, CALLS AND EVEN GIFT BASKETS.
HE SAYS HE HOPES THIS IS THE FRESH START- THAT THE SCHOOL NEEDS.
Although Crockett says the students were distracted by the Dr. Maples situation- he says the school is ready to put what's important first- and that's an education.
"It would be naive to think they weren't distracted especially in the beginning- they were asking the questions- what is happpening at our school and why our school. But here lately they've been focused in what we need to do here and that's get an education and educate," said Crockett.