As is usually the case with high school principals, Solanco's Scott Long has a lot on his mind.

While fondly remembering his time in the district, Long is embracing a new challenge.

Long's last day at Solanco High School will be Friday, Jan. 23.

"Dr. Long has led from a place of humbleness and humility, and these traits have had such an important impact on Solanco High School," Solanco School District superintendent Brian Bliss said. "From his first day here until now, he has so clearly been driven by a belief in the potential of each child. Every conversation I have had with him over the years has been supported by that belief. Such leaders are rare. I am pleased he will be continuing to serve Solanco students in a different, yet very important, capacity. I have tremendous gratitude for what he accomplished at Solanco."

On Monday, Jan. 26, Long will begin in his new role as administrative director of the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC). Based in Willow Street, Long will oversee all five LCCTC campuses - the three main high school campuses, Willow Street, Mount Joy, and Brownstown; the public safety center in Mount Joy; and the nursing program in Willow Street.

The LCCTC works with approximately 1,500 high school students and more than 1,000 adult education students. "I really didn't know much about LCCTC until I started at Solanco," said Long. "I've seen students really have their lives completely changed by the experience they got at LCCTC. They learned a skill and then became very successful. And to me that coincides with my mission. I want to have a positive impact on students, so I felt a calling to apply for the position. And, you know, throughout the interview process and the hiring process, it just became more evident that was where I was supposed to be."

He is excited for the opportunity to reach more students. "As sad as I am to leave (Solanco) because there's so many great things in this district that I'm happy to be a part of, I'm excited to serve kids on a wider scale," he said. "I'll still serve Solanco students, but I'll also do it to serve students from all across the county. We have 16 districts that send their students to us (at LCCTC)."

Long is planning to make his presence felt. "It is my goal to be around at every campus on a weekly basis, just trying to be visible and be seen," he said.

Long will hit the ground running. "(LCCTC) has been growing, and the need for skilled employees in the trades is growing," he said. "Because of that, they've had a significant amount of increase in their applications. Some of their high demand programs have a significant wait list. We're seeing kids apply to programs, they qualify, and we know they would do well, but they're not getting in because there might be 100 applications for 24 seats, for example. So without a doubt, I think we have to find a way to increase our capacity, for sure. That's probably on the forefront of my mind."

Long will be succeeded at Solanco High by Zac Bauermaster, who is currently the principal at Providence Elementary School.

Originally from North East, Md., Long joined the Solanco School District in August 2012, working as a physical education and health teacher at Smith Middle School for three years. He was an assistant principal at Solanco High for four years before taking over as principal in 2020, guiding the school through the pandemic.

Long doesn't regret having to deal with trying times. "That was probably the most difficult year in my school administrative career, and I'm thankful I had it," he said. "I wouldn't change it. I'm glad I was in this role for that because it kind of molded me into the leader I am today."

Long lists several major accomplishments during his tenure as principal, giving the credit to faculty and staff. "I would say the first thing is the team we've assembled," said Long. "I think we've hired really good people over the years. We've hired teachers who are caring, empathetic, compassionate. They really are student-centered. They care about their students. I think we have a really strong team of educators, so I pride myself in that."

Solanco High has also expanded its offerings and has added 10 AP courses. "We've expanded into some innovative ideas with our courses," said Long. "We added a robotics course years ago. Next year we're adding a course on drones where students become licensed to fly a commercial drone. It really speaks to the expertise on our staff. I'm really proud of the opportunity that we give kids. We really want to just have as many different options available and hope that kids experience something that gives them a glimpse into what they want to do after high school."

What he will miss most is the people he has worked alongside. "Not to sound too cliche, but I've been in this building for about 12 years now, and that means I've worked with a lot of people," said Long, who also previously served as the head coach of Solanco's varsity boys' basketball team. "I've hired a lot of people, so I've been here with them for their entire careers. I'm at the point now where a lot of my students, I know their families because there were older siblings, so I'm connected to their families. That's 12 years of relationships, and without a doubt, that's what I'll miss the most."

Long noted that he is grateful for the support he has received from the school board, Bliss, and assistant superintendent Robert Dangler. "We have a great school board. Our school board is very stable," Long said. "They're consistent; they're involved. It's a very common thing for our school board to stop by and do tours and visit our teachers and students. ... I'm thankful for the leadership from Dr. Bliss, Dr. Dangler. It's just a very authentic place to work."

Long is leaving with lots of wonderful memories. "I really appreciate my time here, and the years at Solanco have been the best of my professional career," he said. "I'm just thankful for the time here."