GRANITE QUARRY — A fresh face will take over Erwin Middle School this year. New principal Daniel Herring said that this is his first year as a principal, but he brings with him experience as a Corriher-Lipe Middle assistant principal.

Corriher-Lipe’s former principal, Tonya German, has taken over the reigns at East Rowan High School, right next door to Erwin.

“We came together,” Herring said.

The close proximity of the high school, coupled with Herring and German’s solid working relationship, will be a key for both schools moving forward. Herring said the two schools plan to build a close partnership to help benefit students.

“Essentially we serve the same students for seven years,” Herring said.

So far, the 32-year-old said he’s settling in at Erwin, and is happy to be a part of a school with a good history of strong academics and athletics. There’s a “family feel” and a strong camaraderie among the staff that Herring said he felt made the school unique.

“They’re definitely a tight knit group,” he said.

Herring said he also hopes to build and strengthen relationships with feeder elementary schools Rockwell, Shive, Granite Quarry and Morgan.

“There’s absolutely no reason not to work together for the good of the schools,” he said.

Herring, originally from Sanford, received his undergraduate degree in special education from Appalachian State University, and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is married to wife of eight years, Katie, and the two have 3-year-old twin boys.

For Herring, his family is one reason he plans to throw himself wholly into the roll of principal.

“This is the school that my kids will be coming through. … So I’m going to be very invested in this school,” he said.