Why did you decide to become principal of CHS?

COVID provided me an opportunity to kind of reflect and look at what I really value and what I love. And what I love is everything about buildings. Buildings are difficult. There are challenges every single day. But I like still being around kids, and I like seeing students have success. I like seeing students involved. I like working with adults. I like trying to collaborate and solve challenges. I get all of that at the building level. 

We see you a lot around our school in the hallways, meeting with students and staff, even practicing with the tennis team. How does this speak to your philosophy as an administrator?

I think visibility is critical. Whether that’s in the morning, whether it’s at the end of the day, whether it’s in the evening and at different student events. I want…students to understand that I value what they do by just being there. One of the greatest things that I can give is my time, you know, just being there. The one thing I love about seeing kids in the hallways in the evenings or the mornings or whatever, and clubs settings, activity settings, it provides me an opportunity to see kids in a different light, other than a student. 

What are some ways you plan on increasing that connectedness and culture at CHS? 

First and foremost, I want kids to be active. I get people are gonna have conflicts, people are going to have different commitments and things like that on a Friday night. But what a great way just as an entire community to come together in support, not just our student athletes, but what you just alluded to, just to show that Carmel spirit and to show that Greyhound Connection…One thing I would love is to see kids at different events, and I get that on a Tuesday night it’s a lot harder because you’re focused on your academics and you might have a job in the community, and these are all great things. But wouldn’t it be impressive to have kids show up for a volleyball match or to a tennis match or something different. That’s one thing I’m committed to, is trying to bring more spirit to the school collectively just so we can, we should have pride in what it is to be a Carmel Greyhound. 

How does your perspective as a parent merge with or differ from your perspective as an administrator?

My son attends CHS. He’s a sophomore and I have an eighth-grade daughter and seventh-grade twin daughters, and I think it’s a really good perspective for me. At times when I’m on the phone with a parent, I will say, “Hey, I’m speaking to you as a parent right now.” And then, later on, I say, “I want to speak to you as a principal,” you know, (from that) perspective…But again, I would say this – it’s not always perfect for my kids and when it’s not perfect, that’s a good opportunity to reflect for me as a parent and as the principal to look at. I’m sure other parents are going through some of the same trials and tribulations and so I think it’s a wonderful thing. It’s a great connection. I don’t know how they always feel about it, but I let them try to create their own identity and not embarrass them in the hallways. 

Is there anything else you’d like readers to know?

Now that I’m in this position, when I’ve been out and about in the community, I enjoy when kids and parents come up, and really enjoy when kids do just because it’s a connection where they come up and introduce themselves…I want kids to be able to feel like they can come up and say hello, or what’s going on, and that type of thing.