KINGS MILLS — In the school, they call him “the King of Kings.” But his reign will end Jan. 11.

        Kings High School principal Doug King, 54, is retiring, and Erick Cook, the new mayor of Fairfield, will take over as interim principal.

        Mr. King, who has more than 31 years of education experience, said he plans to pursue other opportunities to work in education.

        “It's time to move on,” Mr. King said. “It's not like I'm going to get out totally. I intend to come back. I have an awful lot to offer to any district or county.”

        Mr. King, who holds a master's degree in education administration from Xavier University, was a teacher and administrator at North College Hill High School for 20 years before moving to Kings. He holds superintendent and teaching certification.

        Under Mr. King's stewardship, Kings High School grew from 805 students in the 1997-98 school year to its current 907 students and the district received an “effective rating” from the Ohio Department of Education. Kings Superintendent David Query, who hired Mr. King in 1996, said that Mr. King contributed to the district's success.

        “I'm sorry to see him leave,” Mr. Query said. “Doug has always been a team player, and that's very important to a school district and how it functions. He's loyal and he's dependable.”

        Student Alex Wessel, a senior, described Mr. King as an administrator with a good sense of humor.

        “Mr. King and I, we're tight,” Mr. Wessel said. “This is the first year that I've gotten to know him. It's really hard because he's not going to be at graduation.”

        Mr. Cook, former superintendent of Fairfield schools with 30 years' education experience, will finish the school year as principal but will not be a candidate for the permanent job, according to Mr. Query.

        Mr. Query said that the hunt for the next principal will start in March, and that the transition would be smooth with Mr. Cook's experience and assistant principal Joy Steller's help. The new principal will not start until the 2002-'03 year.

        Mr. King's wife, Drenda, retired in April after 32 years as a Norwood teacher and his youngest daughter Emily, is studying elementary education at Ohio University.

        “"I don't think there's another more rewarding profession,” Mr. King said.

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