Growing up only blocks away from the school, Justus Gage Elementary has been a big part of Bryan Henry’s life for as long as he can remember.

Besides spending his first years of schooling there, Henry still remembers spending a lot of time at the old playground on the school grounds, he said.

After teaching nine years at Patrick Hamilton, he was transferred to Justus Gage, where he taught another five years, until he began teaching physical education at the middle school and high school last year.

Now, the longtime Dowagiac teacher and coach is returning to the school for a third time. And he is coming back as the man in charge.

On Monday, the Dowagiac Board of Education approved Henry’s hire as the new principal of the school, replacing interim principal Kay Tularak. The two have been working together this week to help get the staff transitioned to the change in leadership before school resumes in September.

“The administration has been very supportive, the community has been very supportive,” Henry said. “[Tularak] has done everything she can to get me off on the right foot.”

Henry has written a letter to his students’ parents to introduce himself to the community, which the district sent out last week. To many parents, though, such a gesture is unnecessary.

A 1992 graduate of Dowagiac Union High School, Henry initially studied business administration for two years at Grand Valley State University before deciding to change course and study education instead.

“I learned a lot of life lessons and skills from my teachers and coaches growing up,” Henry said. “I felt that I had stories to share with others, to help children in the same way that my teachers helped me.”

After spending a year at Lake Michigan College, Henry transferred to Western Michigan University, graduating in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in education. In 2006, he received his master’s degree in educational leadership as well.

After receiving his degree, Henry returned to his hometown to teach fifth-grade at Patrick Hamilton, from 1999 to 2008. After the district’s closure of McKinley Elementary in 2008, Henry moved to Justus Gage, where he also taught fifth-grade students.

Last year, Henry began splitting his time between the middle and high schools, teaching sixth-grade physical education and ninth-grade lifetime fitness.

When the district announced its search for a new principal at Justus Gage following the resignation of Marcy Hendress, Henry decided to apply for the position.

“I’ve seen the entire K-12 continuum here in Dowagiac,” Henry said. “I feel I have a lot to offer our students here because know exactly what the expectations should be for them.”