New Oskaloosa Christian School Principal Jason Alons began work on July 1 and he looks forward to the new school year and meeting people in the community.

Alons, 33, was the principal of the Sanborn Christian School in Sanborn, a town of about 1,300 people near Spencer. Before coming to Sanborn, Alons taught in Bradenton, Fla., at the Bradenton Christian School for five years.

Education runs in Alons’ family as his father also was a principal. Alons’ father was the principal of the Pella Christian Grade School in Pella for eight years in the 1970s.

“I was born in Pella and grew up in Sioux Center for my grade school years,” Alons said.

At Oskaloosa Christian School, Alons administers a staff of about eight full-time and about eight part-time teachers and assistants. The school has a student body of 160 K-eighth-grade students and 40 pre-schoolers.

“This is little more than twice the size than where I was,” Alons said.

The best thing about being a principal is meeting people, Alons said.

“I like working with people — the teachers and students. It’s a lot of fun,” he said. He also likes to progress Christian education.

As Alons settles into his new job, he said he doesn’t plan any sweeping changes at the school. The new school years begins on Aug. 19.

“Continue the excellence that’s already established,” he said.

Before becoming a principal, Alons was a teacher in Bradenton and Sanborn.

“I was a junior high math teacher,” he said.

Alons graduated from Dordt College with a bachelors degree in education and then graduated from the University of South Dakota with a masters in education administration.

Alons and his wife, Michelle, have three daughters. One is 3 years old, the second will be in Kindergarten and the oldest will be in second grade.

Alons said he plans to join a community service organization such as the Rotary Club.