Matthew Mederios officially became the new principal of Cape Coral High School Wednesday, replacing Eric McFee, who was the principal for five years.

McFee, who has been in the district for 23 years, was replaced because he was named principal of the new middle school LL that will open in Lehigh Acres in time for the 2012-2013 school year. He was transferred to the district’s office to oversee construction, purchasing, school plans and hiring for the new middle school LL.

“I am honored that the district brass would consider me for this position,” McFee said about being named as the new principal of the middle school.

“Opening a school is a great opportunity and I am definitely looking forward to the challenge. I have always worked in a school, moving downtown to the main offices, away from kids for a year, will be my greatest challenge.”

Mederios, who was the assistant principal of curriculum for North Fort Myers High School, said he was shocked when he was named the new principal of Cape Coral High School. He said although his goal was to become a principal, it was not currently on his radar.

“It fell into place here,” Mederios said about becoming a high school principal. “I feel really blessed. It is a great school. I am really excited to have this opportunity and am looking forward to serving the students, teachers and community.”

Mederios began his career in education 12 years ago at the high school level as a teacher.

“I love working with high school kids,” he said.

Mederios said since he is coming into Cape High so late, he is not going to make a lot of changes at this point, but rather look at the procedures that are already in place and continue to implement them to have a smooth transition.

“I am trying to lean on my administrative staff, talk to them and get caught up to speed,” he said.

Over the five years that he was the principal of Cape Coral High School, McFee successfully worked with faculty, staff and students in raising the school grade from a “D” to an “A,” helping students earn more than $20 million in scholarships and introducing an IB program with 82 percent of the students earning IB diplomas.

“I am going to miss the great staff, students, parents and community members of Cape Coral, they have been so supportive of both me and my family,” McFee said. “Cape Coral High School has been a major part of my life over these past five years and I am going to miss it dearly.”

He said he is confident that Mederios is going to lead Cape Coral High School to even greater days.

“He is a real nice guy, well prepared and has already hit the ground running,” McFee said about Mederios.