EDWARDSBURG — After spending the last two years working as an insurance agent in Mesa, Arizona, Jim Knoll has returned to southwest Michigan to become principal of Edwardsburg Middle School.

The 1983 Niles High School graduate is replacing Jan MacLean, who retired last year.

“I am really looking forward to the student interaction — I missed that,” said Knoll. “Being with kids and parents and helping them succeed… once you get that in your blood it is hard to get it out. It is just amazing to be part of helping someone develop and grow. It keeps you young, vibrant, keeps your brain moving.”

Prior to moving to Arizona in 2013, Knoll worked in education for nearly 20 years, including seven as principal of Niles High School.

He said he left Niles schools in 2013 because he did not like the direction in which it was being led.

“I had been recruited to go down to Arizona even previous to that and when that opportunity arose I went ahead and took that opportunity to go down there,” Knoll said.

Jim’s wife and three kids moved with him to Mesa where they enjoyed the dry, desert air and beautiful outdoor activities.

Jim said while he did not miss the Michigan winters, he did miss the family and friends they left behind.

“It was hard because most of our associations are still here, but it gave them a nice place to vacation to,” he said. “For the Notre Dame/ASU (football) game there must have been 50 people from Niles down there. A lot of them stayed at our house… it was a lot of fun.”

Jim said a southwest Michigan school district contacted him about a job opening earlier this year. In looking for references, Jim called Edwardsburg Supt. Sherman Ostrander, who informed him of the opening at Edwardsburg.

“I applied and went through the process and was chosen,” Jim said. “I don’t think we ever had a plan to come back (to southwest Michigan), but the opportunity arose.”

This is not Knoll’s first time working at Edwardsburg. He was assistant principal at the high school in 2002-03.