Inuvik (Jun 19/06) - Dave Reid's 23-year career as an educator in Inuvik is drawing to a close, but the door is still open for a return.

Reid, who has been the principal at Samuel Hearne for the past two years, is moving to Hay River after this school year is done.

"I got the position at Diamond Jenness high school as their vice-principal starting next school year," Reid said.

The term in Hay River is for two years. After that, Reid has the option to return to Inuvik.

The Beaufort Delta Education Council offered him two years leave from his current position so he could have the choice of returning to work here.

"I want to be with my two children and see them finish school," Reid said.

Reid's stay in Inuvik started off as temporary and was a way to meet new people and see a different part of Canada.

"I was living in Nova Scotia, and like other teachers in the country, I was looking for work," Reid said.

The opportunity came when Reid was offered a position at SHSS as a shop teacher.

After 18 years as a teacher, Reid applied for the role of vice-principal.

"I looked at it as another way to work with the students and took it right away," Reid said.

In 2004, another opportunity for a promotion came along and Reid became principal.

He has been at the helm of the school since then, and now looks forward to a new challenge in Hay River.

Reid continues to remember the good times he had inside the walls of Samuel Hearne.

"Every year, the best memory I have is seeing another group of students pass through our doors and graduate," Reid said. He plans on returning to the end of the Dempster when it's time.

"I've been here for 23 years, and that is the longest I have ever been in one place.

"This is my home."