Bruce K. Craig Elementary School welcomed its students back into session Monday, and joining them for his first day was the new principal, Michael Walker Jr.

Walker is no stranger to the Dallas County School System, as he was the band director at Southside High School for seven and a half years before leaving in November 2014 to become the assistant principal at Carver Middle School in Greene County.

“It was bittersweet because I had developed some great relationships with my students as band director, and with my parents as well,” Walker said.

But Walker’s time in Greene County would be short, as he was offered the principal position in June.

“I’m very excited about have an opportunity to come back and serve the students here [in the] Dallas County School System and extremely excited to be here at Bruce K. Craig Elementary School,” he said.

Walker is a native of York and graduated in 2002 from Sumter County High School before receiving his bachelor and two master degrees from Alabama State University.

Walker said he is excited to begin his first year as principal, and he is pleased with how things have gone during the first week.

“We’ve had a very exciting school year to start off with. So far we’ve just tried to adopt the attitude of being very positive,” Walker said.

“Everybody seems to be bringing that positive energy to school every day.”

Walker brings big expectations to Craig and said the school is capable of more than what many might think.

“My goal ultimately is for this school to be a flagship school, not only in Selma and Dallas County, but in this state,” Walker said. “We want this school to be a beacon of light.”

Walker said it’s going to take him, teachers, school staff and the students’ parents to accomplish everything that he has planned for the children.

“We have a very knowledgeable staff here that is going to push our children to the next level,” Walker said. “We just want our parents to know that we wish to have a great and positive relationship with them because it’s going to take everybody to educate these children.”