Last modified: Thursday, March 6, 2008 10:24 AM PST Alameda Elementary students Leslie Nunez (left) and Jannette Armas (right) demonstrate their reading skills to Alameda Principal Paul Erlebach. Erlebach was chosen to become the next Ontario Middle School Principal on Tuesday, replacing OMS Principal LaVelle Cornwell, who is retiring at the end of the year. Erlebach has been actively involved in Alameda’s reading emphasis program, which he will carry over into the middle school. Making a change By Brielle Kennington Argus Observer Ontario — The Ontario School District has selected current Alameda Elementary School Principal Paul Erlebach as the new Ontario Middle School Principal. The announcement came Tuesday morning from Superintendent Dr. Dennis Carter. Erlebach will begin his new position at the middle school in the 2008 to 2009 school year. The position became available after the current OMS principal, LaVelle Cornwell, announced her plans to retire at the end of the current school year after seven years as OMS principal and more than 30 years as an educator in Oregon. Erlebach was chosen for the position out of 15 applicants, three of which were interviewed for the position. “We had three good inside candidates. It was a difficult choice,” Carter said. Though the decision was difficult, Erlebach was chosen based on his previous success as an administrator for the district. Erlebach has had six successful years as principal at Alameda Elementary and two as principal at Cairo Elementary. “Well, Paul has been a principal for us for about eight years,” Carter said. “He has had some good experience with our school district. He knows about the processes of the district.” His professional experience includes the supervision of a large school staff, operating successful instructional programs such as reading interventions, and responsible management of school budgets, Carter said. “He has been very involved with our reading emphasis (program) in that building, and it has been carrying over into the middle school,” Carter said. Erlebach attended Treasure Valley Community College, received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in education from Eastern Oregon University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Southern Oregon University. Through a Southern Oregon University exchange program, he also attended the University of Guanajuato, Mexico, where he learned Spanish. Later Erlebach received his Masters Degree in curriculum and development from Portland State University and then his administrative license from Lewis and Clark College. Although he is qualified for the position, Erlebach said he will face some challenges in his new position, including twice the number of students, twice the number of staff and a different age group. Despite the challenges, he applied for the position because he said it was a good career opportunity and he is ready for his new position. “I think it is going to be more time consuming. That’s just part of the job,” Erlebach said. Carter said he feels Erlebach will have a successful transition to the middle school because of his high school teaching experience. Erlebach will also have an advantage because he has established a relationship with former Alameda Elementary School students before they entered the middle school. “I think Paul and the staff at the middle school will do fine with each other. It’s not like he’s going into a foreign country or anything,” Carter said. Along with Erlebach and the middle school staff, the Alameda staff must also adjust to a new principal. Efforts to fill the Alameda principal position will begin immediately. It is anticipated that interviews will be conducted in early April, Carter said. The district will try to have the position filled by April 15 with the help of an interview team comprised of Alameda staff. The interview team will be chosen by each staff member recommending five people. The staff members with the most recommendations will make up the interview team. Though the Alameda staff will be able to voice their opinions and concerns, in the end it will be up to Carter to make the final decision. “We don’t want him to go,” Alameda instructural assistant Louis Lawson said of Erlebach. “I think he will be missed there, and we will try to make a good hire there so that transition can be made well,” Carter said. Erlebach notified his staff that he was applying for the position but did not find out he was chosen until Tuesday. He was then able to tell his family who supported his decision to apply for the job. Both of his two children attend the Ontario School District and will be in the high school when he starts at the middle school next school year. “My wife was very receptive and supportive of (my decision),” Erlebach said. “If you don’t have the support of your family in a position like this it would be difficult.”