After interviewing three of seven applicants, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has invited D. Allan Gee to become Homer High School's next principal.

"The main thing that impressed me besides his qualifications was his sense of caring about the kids that came through clearly," said Liz Downing, KPBSD school board member representing Homer. "The electricity in the room after the interview made it clear to me that the excitement level from the parents and the staff and people who were there were really looking forward to what he can bring to Homer High."

Since December 2007, Gee has been principal of Centerville Elementary School in Snellville, Ga., a K-5 school with 850 students and 112 staff. Prior to that, he served as assistant principal at Richards Middle School in Lawrenceville, Ga., beginning in August 2003.

Gee has six years of experience in Alaska, as principal of Wainwright/Alak School in Wainwright from August 1997-June 1999 and as principal of Kodiak Middle School from August 1999-June 2003.

When Gee left Alaska and returned to his home state of Georgia in 2003 to care for his aging grandparents, his intent was to one day return to Alaska.

"Now that our family ties are no longer here, we're looking forward to getting back to Alaska," Gee told the Homer News in a phone call from Georgia Tuesday.

While at Kodiak Middle School, Gee traveled to Homer for school activities on several occasions.

"I've had some very interesting trips," he said, recalling specifically one 10-hour ferry crossing from Kodiak to Homer that took twice as long due to weather and water conditions.

Gee earned a bachelor of education, with an emphasis on middle grades, from North Georgia College and State University in June 1993. In June 1996, he was awarded a masters of education, with an emphasis in educational leadership from the University of Georgia. He received a doctorate of education, educational leadership, through Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in December 2008.

Gee was the last of three to be interviewed by KPBSD Supt. Donna Peterson at the HHS library June 11. Interviewed in person was David Larson, who currently serves as HHS assistant principal. That was followed by a phone interview with Harold King, who has been assistant principal at Woodward Public School, Woodward, Okla., since 1994.

Gee also was interviewed by phone, the call coming at 11 p.m. his time in Georgia.

When asked what qualities he felt were essential as Homer High's next principal, Gee listed establishing an "authentic, caring atmosphere for students and staff," establishing a level of trust, open communication, commitment to learning and holding himself and others accountable.

"Homer High School needs to be the focal point of the community. That begins every morning when we open the doors," he said.

When asked how to make Homer an attractive option for every student in Homer, Gee said it begins with giving students a "reason to come to school." He spoke of complacency among students at all levels of education, pointing to a statistic that says only 53 percent of college students graduate, and that it takes an average of six years for them to reach that goal.

In response to Peterson asking what he would do to ensure a positive climate in Homer High, Gee said, "That starts with Day One, meeting and talking to the students." He added the importance of being aware of and being excited about activities going on. Highlighting the significance of activities that bring the community together, Gee described the end-of-year picnic at Centerville Elementary School during which he cooked more than 1,000 hot dogs.

"How will you establish your leadership style?" Peterson asked.

"It's essential to listen and learn when I get there," Gee said. "What's working? What's not working? What are the concerns? How can I provide support?"

Describing what students need for a successful transition into the adult world, Gee gave his three Rs: rigor, meaning certain expectations so every student is prepared; the relevance of learning to future success; and relationships or the support given students by school staff.

Gee will replace Rayna Duenas, who served as HHS principal for the 2008-2009 school year, following an assignment as HHS assistant principal. On May 27, Duenas notified KPBSD administration in writing of her intent to pursue her own education leading to a career in the legal field. According to Tim Peterson, director of KPBSD Human Resources, Duenas completed her contract with the district the week of June 8.

Having just accepted the district's offer Monday, Gee is making plans to be in Homer by the middle of July. With children in sixth grade and eighth grade, he said upon learning of the opening at HHS, he looked at the school's Web site, with an eye toward academics and extra-curricular activities.

"I was very impressed with what the school has to offer Homer students," Gee said. "My family is very important to me and I wanted to be certain that this would be a good fit. Having lived in Kodiak, they, too, have a great parks and rec program and lots of activities for children. That's the reason that really drew me to Homer."

Gee also is looking forward to returning to a community the size of Homer.

"I live 18 miles from my current work site and I spend more than an hour getting to work each morning because of traffic," he said. "Where I live is the metro Atlanta area, so it is extremely congested. I'm looking forward to returning to a small town."

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibbenjackinsky.@homernews.com.