Sand Ridge Charter Schools have a new principal, but he is no stranger to the two campuses.

John Leon was administrator at the school before, resigning in 2004.

He was hired Sept. 15, said director of operations Mary Northern.

Leon declined an interview with the Lebanon Express.

Northern said she is ecstatic to have him back.

"He was hired to take care of students, staff and communicate with parents," Northern said.

Leon will not require as much training, she said, because he is already familiar with the school's curriculum.

"He already knows where we're headed and what our expectation is," Northern said.

She said Leon is from Albany.

Leon holds a Charter School Registry Administrator license with the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.

According a 2004 article in the Lebanon Express, Leon resigned amid accusations from parents that he "engaged in inappropriate religious activity with students: preaching, reading Bible verses and crying during religious talks."

He denied the allegations, but said resigning was in the best interest of the school and himself.

In 2005, the Oregon Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction Vickie Fleming, on behalf of Superintendent Susan Castillo, concluded that religious activities ceased when Leon resigned his position on July 23, 2004.

Northern said he was chosen by the board because he has "an incredible communication ability" and will "take care of our staff."

"He spends an incredible amount of time in the classroom," she said. "We need to know what's going on in the classroom to see what staff development is needed. He's just immersed himself in that."