By Doug Petrowski

After more than five years as principal of Brier-Terrace Middle School, Kevin Allen is returning to his high school alma mater to serve as the school’s top administrator. Allen begins work as the principal of Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood on July 1.

“I’m so excited about it,” Allen said this week.

Allen has been an educator for 22 years, spending 17 years at the high school level. A desire to try something new, working with middle schoolers, led him to take the principal job at Brier-Terrace Middle School.

In addition to serving as the school’s principal, Allen has been involved with coaching there. “Brier-Terrace is a great place,” he said. “I will miss it.”

So why a jump back into high school education? “There’s a different energy, a different dynamic at the high school level,” Allen said. “I want to get back to that.”

Brier-Terrace Middle School has a student population of almost 700; there are about 1,550 students attending Meadowdale High School.

Taking the job at Meadowdale is a homecoming for Allen; he graduated from the school in 1983. “Back then we were the Chieftains,” he added.

Allen not only beat out other applicants for the post, he had to overcome another obstacle in his path back to MHS. “Two of my kids are attending Meadowdale. I had to get their permission before I applied for the position,” he said.

The Edmonds School District hopes to fill the vacant principal post at Brier-Terrace Middle School soon after July 1. The 2012-2013 school year at all district schools begins Wednesday, Sept. 5.