HAMPTON -- Timothy Lannan spent his first official day on the job as the new principal of Centre School getting to know his new vice principal as well the district he hopes to work for a long time.

"I'm very excited to be here," Lannan said Monday. "The school is fabulous. It's a nice, warm, nurturing school for students."

The former principal of the Marsh Grammer School in Methuen, Mass., was appointed to the open principal position last week by the Hampton School Board.

He was selected from 18 applicants who had applied for the job to replace Nancy Andrews, who retired after serving the district for 24 years.

Lannan said he, along with newly appointed vice principal Katherine Langlois, hopes to continue all the great work that Andrews had done over the years.

"We have very big shoes to fill and we recognize that," Lannan said. "There is so many great things already happening at this school.

"We would like to continue building upon those successes that are already here," said Langlois.

Lannan said he served as principal for the last 14 years in four different schools in Methuen with the most recent being a kindergarten through eighth-grade school.

"I wanted to work for a smaller, neighborhood school," said Lannan, on why he wanted to apply for the Hampton position. "The school I came from was very large with 1,400 students."

A more personal reason, he said, was that he grew up at Seabrook Beach and still has family in the area.

"I would like to relocate to the area one day and, hopefully, retire here," said Lannan, who is married with three children.

Centre School, he believes, will be a good fit for his type of leadership style.

"My strength as principal is working directly with the students and the staff," Lannan said. "I think the school will be a good match with my leadership style, which is a hands-on approach to education."

Both Lannan and Langlois said they are looking forward to working with fellow administrators in achieving the district's goal of establishing a district-wide curriculum.

"We want a seamless transition from this school to the next school," Lannan said.

Prior to being appointed vice principal, Langlois served as assistant principal at Hampton Academy.

Both said their first priority for the upcoming school year is just to get to know everyone.

"The number one goal has to be developing relationships with the staff, students and the parents," said Langlois.

"We need to make sure there is open, honest communication that goes on at all times with all parties involved," Lannan said. "They need to get to know us and we need to get to know them."

Lannan said he and Langlois plan on hosting several open houses for students and parents before the school year starts.

As for his first official day on the job, Lannan said so far, so good.

"I'm looking forward to the first day of school more so than today because that is why we are here," the new principal said. "We are here for the students, staff and parents."