Russell Caudill greets them with a firm, brisk handshake and a pleasant smile.

His beliefs are in open view for all to see. A framed and decorated copy of The Ten Commandments is placed prominently on a wall to the left of his desk, and as he sits down a framed "In God We Trust" appears on the wall behind him over his right shoulder.

A sign perching in plain view serves as a constant reminder to employees of the purpose of their jobs. "Is what I'm doing, or about to do, going to improve student achievement?" it asks.

"I set high expectations for our staff and our students," Caudill said. "And I know we can meet them. Mr. (John) Bull has left a good staff here. They're very efficient, and it's a pleasure to work with them."

Caudill won the election for superintendent during the August run off Democratic primary. Superintendent John Bull is retiring after 12 years in office.

The incoming superintendent ran in a crowded field of qualified hopefuls that formed after Bull announced his retirement following two unopposed terms. Caudill said he would not have run against Bull, but when the opportunity came, he thought he was the best qualified person for the job.

"I felt the number of years and experience I had in the school system had prepared me for this and I could do a good job," he said. "We have an excellent school system, and I will work hard to improve it even more."

That work has already begun, he said. Although Caudill is not officially the superintendent until after Jan. 1, he has been in the district's central office working full-time with Bull for the past three weeks.

"He's been a great help," Caudill said. "He has eased me into things and made the transition a lot smoother. That really shows the concern he has for the school district -- not to just dump it on a new superintendent, but to help them into their role."

It is a concern Caudill has witnessed for many years, he said. Caudill has served as the principal at Monticello Elementary School since 1994.

He was born at Eglin Air Force Base in Ft. Walton, Fla., and raised primarily in the area surrounding the base.

He first came to Mississippi to complete the last two years of his Bachelor's degree at Whitworth College and stayed to get his Master's at William Carey.

It was during his college years that the Florida native met the former Wanda White of Sontag, now his wife. The couple moved back to Lawrence County after college and Caudill accepted a job at McCullough Junior High "about 30 years ago."

He taught there for a few years before taking a job in the Walthall County School District and moving to Tylertown. He kept that job, teaching and coaching, for 18 years.

"Then I had the opportunity to come back to Lawrence County as an administrator, so we came back," Caudill said.

He returned to become principal at the elementary school and held that job until the election.

The district is in excellent shape, he said, but it faces several challenges in the next few years.

The district has four Level 4 schools and one Level 3 school, according to state accountability standards.

It is also positioned to move beyond even those exemplary grades to become a superior system, he said.

"I do believe we have the potential to have Level 5 schools in Lawrence County," Caudill said. "I would like to see more parent involvement. I think to improve we're going to have to see more parents get involved in their child's education."

Parent involvement also includes those parents whose children are not yet old enough to attend school, he said.

"One area we have got to continue to address is early childhood education so they are prepared when they enter school," he said.

A district's faculty is always in flux with teachers moving or retiring, Caudill said, but Lawrence County is about to get hit harder than most in the next few years as senior administrators consider retirement. No formal announcements have been made this year, but several administrators and teachers have admitted contemplating retirement, he said.

"Another area of challenge will be in replacing some administrators and teachers who are going to be retiring this year," he said. "We always want to work hard to find the very best people we can for whatever position we're hiring for. I want to maintain a highly qualified staff of teachers with a drive to continue to do better."

Caudill said when he is away from the office he tries to spend as much time as he can with his grandchildren. He has become an avid fisherman and hunter, mainly because "I can do them with my grandchildren."

Unfortunately, the change in jobs has prevented him from enjoying those hobbies this year.

"I haven't been out much this season," he said. "I've been trying to do more (in the office). I hope to get out more around Christmas."