Eric Lambright said he just can’t wait to go back to middle school.
    He will take the reins as principal of Overland Trail Middle School Oct. 4.
    “There’s a tremendous amount of change that takes place within the three years you have the students in middle school,” he said. “You can really make a lot of impact and they’re a lot of fun.”

    Lambright is a 27J veteran. He is currently an assistant principal at Brighton High School. Before that, he was assistant principal at Vikan Middle School and also a teacher in the district.
    Originally from Indiana, Lambright also taught for a number of years in the Fort Wayne school district. He and his family returned to Indiana for the 2008-09 school year when Lambright was principal of Northwood Middle School in Fort Wayne. He has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education-social studies from Purdue and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne.
    Lambright said he was thrilled to have the opportunity to return to 27J last year.
    “I really feel a part of this school district,” he said. “I saw it double in size. I have a lot of faith in what we’re doing on the elementary, middle and high school level, as well as with the district leadership.”
    District Superintendent Rod Blunck said 27J is equally as pleased to have Lambright back in Brighton and looking forward to his leadership at OTMS.
    “Eric Lambright has a history in 27J that is indicative of his commitment to our school district and to our community,” Blunck said in a press release. “I look forward to his leading Overland Trail Middle School for many years and I have every confidence that under his leadership the school will thrive, to the benefit of students and the Overland Trail Middle School community.”
    To help focus on student achievement and to achieve his goal of meeting all students at all levels, Lambright looks forward to getting to know the Overland Trail community and encourages parents of the 690 students to call, e-mail or stop by the school to visit him. 
    “I’m coming in at not a typical time of the year,” he said. “My first goal is to get to know the entire community — students, parents and teachers — and build relationships at all those levels and let people know it can be a great experience.
    “I want people to know I’m here for their kids, and I really want to make sure their kids have a great experience at school,” he added.