Recent UAS M.Ed. graduate Jeffrey Ambrosier  has been hired as the new Ninilchik School Principal.

Not a newcomer to the area, Ambrosier has been fishing in Ninilchik many times. Originally from Colorado, Ambrosier earned a bachelor of science in biology, with a concentration in marine biology, from Oregon State University in 1992.

He has a secondary science certificate from Colorado State University and earned an Alaska State Type B certificate and master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Alaska Southeast in 2010.

Ambrosier taught high school science for Dillingham City Schools from 2002-2006, was lead instructor at the Bristol Bay Salmon Camp from 2004-2006 and spent the 2006-2007 school year teaching eighth-grade science and reading at Mesa View Middle School in Farmington, N.M. "I was just there one year. I went down there and, boy, Alaska was in my blood," said Ambrosier, laughing.

In 2007, he was back in Alaska as the principal-teacher at Aleknagik, where he will remain until coming to Ninilchik this summer.

"There were just a couple of districts I was interested in work- ing for and the Kenai Peninsula district was the best school district to work for. It has solid leadership, an outstanding record of student performance as well as a high level of extra-curricular activities," said Ambrosier.