Two of the Northland area's three public high schools began the 2012-13 academic year this week with new principals.

One of the changes involves a familiar face in a new place: Duane R. Bland, principal at Northland High School since 2004, moves into the same post at Brookhaven.

The retirement of Brookhaven principal Bob Murphy created the vacancy, according to Jeff Warner, communications director for Columbus City Schools.

Taking over for Bland at Northland will be Daniel A. Martin, a graduate of West High School who went on to become principal of his alma mater. Martin, who graduated from West High in 1972, is a former assistant principal at Northland, according to his resume.

"It's not unusual for us," Warner said. "We have a lot of retirements, so the superintendent's moving people she believes are best suited for that school community or potentially have even worked in that school community previously.

"She's wanting to make sure we have experienced leaders in buildings."

Bland, according to his resume, received a bachelor of arts degree in physical education from Morehead State University in Kentucky in 1980. All of his postgraduate education, including his superintendent certification and master's degree in secondary school administration, was at the University of Akron.

Bland lives in New Albany.

"I'm real excited about it," he said of the new venue. "I'm looking forward to the work with the Brookhaven community, the parents and students, working together.

"We're no longer under the three-small-school-concept," he added. "We're now just one traditional high school."

To that end, Bland said, he is starting off the school year under the theme, "We Are One."

"Everybody working together, working toward raising high academic standards, high expectations for each student," Bland said. "I'm looking forward to working with the staff. We've had a great summer in terms of preparing to work together collaboratively."

Martin became principal at West High School in 2008, his resume states.

"The ability to have graduated, taught, coached and then become principal of West High School was a wonderful opportunity and most humbling experience," Martin wrote in a brief biography.

He served as an assistant principal at Northland and Fort Hayes from 2005 to 2008.

Martin began his teaching career at North High School, now Columbus International High School, as an instructor of office education and cooperative office education in 1976. He left education in 1979, his resume indicates, to work as a real estate agent and operations manager for a bank, before returning to the district in 1985.

Martin, who resides in Hilliard, earned a master of education degree and his four-year provisional high school principal certification from Ashland University. He earned his bachelor of science degree in comprehensive business education from Defiance College.

Martin is a past president and board officer with Charity Newsies.