Cobb becomes new Oak Harbor Middle School assistant principal

"When Oak Harbor Middle School students step into school this Sept. 7, not only will they be greeted by a brand new building, but also by a new face.Mike Cobb, from the Wapato School District near Yakima, is the new assistant principal and replaces Joel Hollingsworth, who left Oak Harbor for the Selah School District at the end of last year. Cobb said he’s excited about the arrival in Oak Harbor and hopes his wife and children, ages 9, 7, 5 and 2, enjoy the experience as much as he has so far. Cobb has heard great things about Oak Harbor, which was his motivation for accepting the job.“People I’d talked to in Yakima always had good things to say about Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island in general,” he said. “I love outdoor stuff and Whidbey seems like a wonderful place to settle in.”Cobb taught sixth grade at Wapato Middle School for eight years. The Oak Harbor position is his first administration job. Before teaching he served in the Army and worked for the Diocese of Anchorage. He earned bachelors and masters degrees in education from Central Washington University in Ellensberg. Cobb started his teaching career as a middle school special education teacher. He grew to enjoy teaching that particular age.“Kids at the middle school level are just a different kind of kid,” Cobb said. “They’re going through so many different growth stages.”He describes himself as a hard working team player who is organized and has good communication skills. Cobb hopes these traits will help him make the transition from Yakima, as well as the jump from teaching to administrative work.Cobb said he’s excited to meet families and get involved in the community.“I am really looking forward to working with the students and the staff at OHMS,” he said. Cobb’s duties at the middle school will include directing athletics, overseeing student discipline, running staff evaluations, managing the building and directing ASB. "

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.