Isaiah Wyatt has a tough job ahead of him. But having spoken with him about his plans as principal, I am hopeful about his chances to succeed.
Immediately after former Principal Eric Juli announced his resignation to the high school faculty Nov. 18, I spoke with Wyatt during a meeting with Dr. David Glasner, superintendent, and Executive Director of Communications Scott Stephens.
During the meeting, Wyatt made sure to say that the most important change he wants to make is to improve unity within the high school. He said that if we all work together, the school environment will be stronger. To illustrate that point, Wyatt asked me to stand up and link arms with him, Glasner and Stephens.
He also expressed interest in getting to know me. He asked questions about my hobbies and activities around and outside of school. He immediately made me feel comfortable.
I see that same comfort when Wyatt interacts with students in the halls. It feels good to have a principal who expresses such a positive attitude.
However, a positive vibe and focus on unity are not enough to ensure success. As principal it is your responsibility to bring stability to the building. A positive vibe does help unify the school environment, but it doesn’t necessarily keep the school safe.
There is finally a new plan for a safety protocol. The central administration and Board of Education agreed to institute walk-through weapon-detection in the high school, and students encountered OpenGate systems when they entered school this week.
In Issue 1, I expressed the urgent need and desire for weapon detection in the high school. Juli’s main objective this year was to find a safe and efficient way into the school. After five years of telling the Board of Education that the building is not safe, Juli succeeded in establishing security screenings after three weapons incidents occurred during one September week. The system of wanding and bag searches was not ideal, but it forced the BOE to act. I am extremely grateful for that accomplishment.
Thus far, Wyatt has done a good job in reinforcing the phone policy. I have seen administrators enter my classes once or twice a day to look for phones. No matter how people feel about the policy itself, it’s important to see the staff enforcing it. The same goes for his renewed effort in clearing the hallways with hall sweeps.
Wyatt marks the sixth principal, interim or otherwise, that SHHS has had in nine years. I’m graduating in June; I hope that Wyatt can prove to be a successful interim principal who can become the long-term leader our school needs for the sake of stability.
A version of this article appears in print on page 2 of Volume 95, Issue 3, published Jan. 24, 2025.
