PCM High School Principal Bridges headed to Melcher-Dallas

After 15 years at PCM High School, principal Scott Bridges is taking a new position at his old stomping grounds. Bridges will serve as the new high school principal and district superintendent for Melcher-Dallas Community School District for the coming school year.

Bridges, who previously served as the band director at Melcher-Dallas, came to PCM in 2005 to serve in the same position. He later took on the role of Dean of Students and in 2012 as the high school principal.

“I have had some really great experiences here at PCM,” Bridges said. “I’ve been at PCM for 15 years, that is a third of my life. I have mixed feeling about leaving, but I am excited about the new opportunity and taking the things I have learned at PCM with me.”

Superintendent Brad Jermeland said he knew Bridges was well respected when he started in the district four years ago.

“He has worked hard and done well during my tenure here. I think he is a good instructional leader, he always has the focus of kids and student learning at the forefront when working with students and staff,” Jermeland said. “I know it has always been an aspiration of his to become a superintendent, so I’m happy for him and his family.”

Bridges said it will be tough to the leave the school as he has become really attached in the past 15 years. With so many experiences during his time at PCM, it was hard for him to pin point just one highlight.

“Just getting to know the people and the relationships you build with both students and faculty, that is something I will look back on and remember the most,” Bridges said.

As for filling his position, Jermeland said he is currently in the process of reviewing the job description and once that is complete it will be posted for potential applicants. He said they plan to post it simultaneously for both internal and external applicants.

After applications are received, they will be reviewed and determine which candidates they want to bring in for interviews. During the interview process, the district will use a few teams including the administrative team, teachers and classified staff to conduct the interviews, a similar process to the one that was used to hire both the Monroe Elementary and middle school principal positions last year.

Once the interviews are complete, a recommendation will be made to the school board.

“I’d like to shoot for having the position filled by the first part of April,” Jermeland said. “It will go quickly here, we’ll probably post it for two week, review the applicants, have a week of interviews and then hopefully have it filled by the first of April.”

Bridges will continue to serve as principal through the remainder of the school year before he starts his new position in Melcher-Dallas July 1.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com