Longtime Tanner High School principal Billy Owens will begin a new journey this month as principal of Highland Rim School in Fayetteville, Tennessee. The announcement comes less than a month since he officially retired from his position at Tanner.

Owens said he found out about the position through former Highland Rim principal Garth Garris. Garris is leaving the elementary school to go to Lincoln County High School.

“I didn’t really try (for the position),” Owens said. “Garth Garris … told me he was thinking about possibly going to the high school and we started talking about Highland Rim and he made it sound like a great school — a high-achieving school — and he asked if I might be interested. I said, ‘Sure,’ and from there it went really quickly.”

Owens said he has visited the school twice so far and met with Lincoln County Schools Director Dr. Bill Heath since interviewing for the position June 28. Heath called Owens and offered him the position July 3 and just two days later, Owens accepted and signed his contract.

“It moved really quickly, but school will start in a month so it needed to move quickly,” Owens said.

Though Owens is no stranger to education or leading education — he taught and was an administrator in Limestone County for more than 30 years — he said he is a little nervous about starting in a new place.

“Basically I have to get reacquainted with a new staff of teachers and faculty and 650 students,” he said. “I’m anxious and excited about it.”

Owens said he isn’t planning any changes to the new school immediately.

“When you go into a good situation, it’s for a reason, and I’m going to go in and see what changes need to be made, if any,” he said.

Owens now lives in Limestone County and plans to stay here while commuting to Tennessee.

Highland Rim School is a K-8 school.