When Paul Gillihan was offered the principal position at Campbell High School, the answer came quickly -- and from the heart. “It was easy,” he says. “I’m coming home to where I started in Cobb 19 years ago.”
For Paul, the halls of Campbell aren’t unfamiliar. He once taught here, walking the same corridors he now leads. “Some of the hallways are exactly as I remember them,” he says with a smile. “I even stopped by my old classroom on the 900 hall. Two of the custodians from back then are still here -- we had a great visit about the ‘old’ days.”
This homecoming is more than a professional move -- it’s a heartfelt return to a community Paul knows and loves. His leadership journey has spanned Cobb County, from Griffin Middle to Wheeler High, but the energy in Smyrna has always felt special. “There are already so many great people here that I know and love,” he says. “I look forward to rekindling relationships while creating new ones.”
And he’s bringing some familiar faces with him. The new administrative team includes six returning members and two fresh additions: Dr. Tony Cobb, a dedicated educator with experience ranging from juvenile facilities to adapted PE, and Phillip Howard, the new athletic director, who’s no stranger to the Cobb school system himself. “Phillip’s a familiar face -- he’s taught math at several Cobb schools, including Campbell Middle and Lindley. He’s coming back home, too.”
Paul’s leadership style is rooted in visibility, service, and support. “I hope students and staff will describe me as a servant leader,” he says. “Someone out doing the work -- supporting our teachers and encouraging our students.”
That care and connection are at the core of his philosophy. One thing he wants every Campbell student to hear this year? “That they are cared for and loved,” he says. “I used to tell my students at Wheeler, ‘If no one else told you today, Mr. G loves you.’ It’s important that they know someone sees them and believes in them.”
And while he’s laser-focused on student growth and safety, Paul doesn’t just measure success by GPAs. “Yes, academic growth matters,” he says, “but so does citizenship. How students grow in maturity and how they treat others -- that’s how we build stronger communities and a better world.”
He’s the kind of principal who remembers his own first day of high school -- not just the nerves and excitement, but the feeling of brand-new Nike shoes and the joy of reuniting with friends. He’s traded those halls in rural Arkansas for the Campbell campus, but the energy of a new school year still gets him. “I’m most looking forward to getting to know everyone,” he says. “I know several of the teachers already -- I can’t wait for the students to return.”
And when he’s not on campus? You might catch him walking in the woods, his favorite way to recharge. “There’s nothing better,” he says. That, or reflecting on past accomplishments -- like the two marathons he’s completed. “You’d never guess it looking at me,” he laughs, “but I’ve run the Memphis and Chicago marathons. I may even do another!”
He’s in transition even in the small things -- like swapping out his beloved Starbucks refresher for something a little less sugary. “Still working on a replacement,” he laughs. But whether it’s caffeine or sheer determination, he’s got all the energy he needs to hit the ground running this school year.
For Paul Gillihan, returning to Campbell High School isn’t just a new job. It’s a meaningful next chapter in a story that began right here in Smyrna -- and the best is yet to come.