NEW ROLE — Dan Hartman has started his new role as supervisor/principal at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School, where he hopes to carry on current programs, add new ones and bolster student enrollment, he said. For now, he is getting ready for the first day of classes on Aug. 24 for juniors and Aug. 25 for seniors. -- Contributed

BLOOMINGDALE — Dan Hartman has taken the helm as the new supervisor/principal Jefferson County Joint Vocational School and has his sights set on taking the school into the future.

Hartman, who served as principal at Indian Creek High School for the past four years, began his new role on Aug. 1 and is under a two-year contract with the JCJVS. He will oversee 338 juniors and seniors and work with supervisor/assistant principal Sis Abdalla on day-to-day operations.

A lifelong Jefferson County resident, Hartman graduated from Edison High School in 1995 and earned his teaching degree from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He obtained his master’s degree from Salem International University in West Virginia and taught at the elementary and middle school levels for five years before becoming principal at ICHS. He said his transition to the vocational school is exciting because he can help students obtain more hands-on training en route to their potential careers.

“I love being here. I think this is a very special place, and the staff has welcomed me,” he said. “Things are going very smoothly and I look forward to a very productive and fun year.

“I am a hands-on person, and being able to be part of a school system where kids get to use their hands and interact, create and develop beyond academics is what makes me intrigued. I want to maintain the current programs and increase enrollment (but also focus) on advanced career programs.”

For now, he is settling into his new role and waiting for the first day of classes to start on Aug. 24 for juniors and Aug. 25 for seniors. He is also looking forward to carrying on the school’s ideologies and working with administrators such as Superintendent Todd Phillipson.

“We have fantastic career programs. … I will also work with principals and administration in the local schools in Jefferson County. I’m very thankful and excited about this opportunity,” he said.