Some principals might welcome students back to school with a stuffy speech or a boring PowerPoint. This year, new principal Myron Graber began the school year by showing the freshmen his best self(ie).

“[Graber is] professional, personable and just a really nice, great guy,” administrative assistant Connie Kesinger said.

Although Free State will be the sixth school Graber has been the principal of, his original career was teaching.

When the death of the principal at Fairfield High School in 1986 left the position open, Graber was asked to fill in. Since then, he has been working in administration in schools across Kansas and Missouri.

The new leader is excited to be part of community of Lawrence as well as the traditions at Free State, citing the academic, arts, music and athletic programs as part of the distinction.

“There’s excellence across the board, and I look forward to being a part of that,” Graber said.

While there is still some uncertainty about how the school will operate, Kesinger is confident that Free State is in good hands.

“There’s a lot of communication going on, and that’s key,” Kesinger said.

One of the new principal’s missions is to continue to prepare Free State students for life after high school by looking at ways to improve the school and all its elements.

“We need to continue looking at ways to get better,” Graber said. “Sometimes when people are pretty good at something they sit back and rest on their laurels, and the rest of the world passes them by and all of the sudden they’re nowhere. The enemy of great is good.”

Although some rules have been altered regarding policies such as extra credit and the dress code, the new principal feels there is not a lot Free State needs to address at this point in time.

“I think some people maybe had the wrong idea, that I came in here to change things,” Graber said. “I just think we need to continue to focus on preparing you, as students, to be successful.”