SKOWHEGAN -- Bruce Mochamer is not John Krasnavage. But students at Skowhegan Area Middle School accustomed to seeing a lot of their principal will get more of the same.

Mochamer, approved by School Administrative District 54 to succeed Krasnavage earlier this month, wants to be in contact with the students.

"I have an office, but I don't have to live in an office," said Mochamer, who most recently served as Krasnavage's assistant. "I want to be in the hallways."

Mochamer first served as a science teacher at the school, following 12 years teaching in Farmington, where he resides. He has the job he wants.

"I'm ecstatic," said Mochamer, who earned his bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Maine at Farmington. "The eight years I have served under John have been wonderful. Whatever had to be done got done."

SAD 54 Superintendent Brent Colbry said Mochamer has the respect of the middle school staff.

"They were unanimous in their support of him, as was the school board," Colbry said. "He's very bright, he's very capable and he's very knowledgeable about the middle school philosophy."

Part of that philosophy, Mochamer said, is dealing with students who are much different from those in his school days.

"Kids learn differently nowadays, and it's being aware of that," Mochamer said. "Some are hands-on, some are great writers, some are verbal, and must show you. The days of 'here's a test, answer the questions,' are changing."

Technology, Mochamer said, is a chief agent in the change. Students are using laptops for the fifth year.

"The teachers have said, 'wow, what a powerful tool,'" Mochamer said. "We have teachers who e-mail assignments to kids on a daily basis. We have teachers who will e-mail students who are absent."

Mochamer said that, as principal, he will support the staff's advancement on the technology end. There are different levels of expertise, he said.

"I want to continue to support the staff through technology," he said. "It's sometimes moving quicker than we can move."

Mochamer has a three-year contract. He will begin his new duties on July 1, with a first-year salary of $71,150.