By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
SCOTTVILLE — The Mason County Central Board of Education is expected to hire Brian Dotson as the next principal of MCC High School during its meeting Monday, June 22, at 6 p.m. at the high school.
Dotson will replace Jeff Tuka, who will become superintendent July 1 following the retirement of longtime Superintendent Jeff Mount.
Currently serving as MiSTEM regional director with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Dotson brings more than two decades of experience in education, including classroom teaching, athletic administration and school leadership.
“I am very excited about this opportunity,” Dotson said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the MiSTEM position but something has been missing. This past year, due to budget cuts, I was able to work more in the classrooms with students, and that’s what I have really missed.”
Dotson has served as MiSTEM regional director since 2022, overseeing STEM education initiatives across an eight-county region. In that role, he developed regional strategic plans, managed grant-funded budgets, built partnerships with community organizations and helped establish two West Michigan robotics facilities. He also mentored new MiSTEM directors and served on a statewide mathematics task force.
Prior to joining MiSTEM, Dotson spent nearly seven years as a principal with Ludington Area School District, where he collaborated on budget development, school improvement planning, staff evaluations and instructional programming. Before becoming principal, he served as Ludington’s 6-12 athletic director and middle school assistant principal. His educational career also includes positions as a fourth-grade teacher, technology teacher and youth program director.
Dotson earned a master’s degree in K-12 principalship from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.
His professional accomplishments include being named a National Distinguished Principal in 2021 and receiving the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association Outstanding Practicing Principal Award in 2020.
Dotson and his wife, Betsy, have two children who attend Mason County Central Schools. Their daughter, Brenna, will be a sophomore this fall, while their son, Brock, will be entering sixth grade.
“Mason County Central has been such a welcoming community,” Dotson said. “I have already received numerous phone calls and emails from the faculty welcoming me to this position. Mr. Mount and Mr. Tuka have done such an incredible job creating a positive learning environment at MCC High School, along with the other members of the administration, staff and school board.”
The board is scheduled to consider Dotson’s hiring during its regular meeting Monday at 6 p.m. at MCC High School.
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