Central High Student Honors Principal

Principal Bob Wales to Move to Administrative Post

CENTRAL — Members of the Central Community School Board heard a Central High junior step forward Monday night to pay tribute to outgoing Central High principal Bob Wales.  Christopher Harris made these remarks:

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Christopher Harris, and I am a junior at Central High School.  First, I would like to thank the members of the school board for giving me the opportunity to speak here tonight.

As I’m sure most of you are aware, Central High’s principal of five years, Mr. Bob Wales has recently been reassigned from this position.  As is typical in a high school, rumors have been running rampant as to exactly why Mr. Wales has been reassigned.  Although no students seem to know for certain the reason behind his reassignment, we have been able to figure out some of the duties Mr. Wales will be responsible for in his new position.  As published in the 16th volume of paper number 6 of the Central City Newspaper, Mr. Wale’s new duties will include:

• Directing the Advance Placement Program at Central

• Overseeing ACT  testing, and

• Developing an early college academy at the school.

Although I am confident Mr. Wales would carry out these jobs well, I, as well as many of the students at Central High, feel as if he makes a much better principal.  Many of us feel so strongly about this issue because Mr. Wales doesn’t simply “go through the motions” as principal.  He fully carries out what he must do as principal, serves as a role model for the students, and most importantly, genuinely cares for the students.

Daily, I see Mr. Wales in the halls asking students to tuck their shirts in and reminding them of their ID.  But, not only this, I also see him asking students how their grades are looking, how their families are doing, and congratulating them on accomplishments they have received.  These small gestures are what distinguish Mr. Wales as a great principal.  By asking simple questions about life aside from school, students at Central are given the impression that Mr. Wales isn’t solely concerned about school.  By making this connection with the students, the students are placed in a more enjoyable learning environment, thus giving them motivation to work harder and make better grades.  This is evident in the fact that Central’s ACT scores were tied for first in the state last year, under Mr. Wales’s tenure.

Not only does Mr. Wales have an established connection with the students and teachers at Central High because he has been there for 27 years, he also serves as someone we can look up to daily. I found when talking to some of the teachers that Mr. Wales is very understanding when a family emergency arises, such as a sick child or spouse because he too has a family. I also believe this is why he treats his students like he does. He is going to get on to you when you start to slack off but at the same time he is very understanding and will do anything in his power to help if a student is having problems in his/her family. The Central High School vision statement is simply “exceed expectations.” Mr. Wales does this each day which distinguishes him from being a person in an administrative position who is not only worried about what the scores will look like at the end of the semester but also someone who cares personally about each and every student and how they are doing. I was getting some numbers about school rankings and test scores. He gave me some of the stats, but then looked at me and said something along the lines of,” All of those things are great because they reflect how well we do as a school, but at the end of the day I’m not going to be kept up by the fact that not every one of my students made a 36 on the ACT; I’m going to be more worried about that family who lost their home to a house fire or lost a family member and how I can help them.” Mr. Wales then goes from being the Principal of central high school to being that Great man who stands for his students, helping them and their families, and guiding his students on the right path.

Besides the fact that Mr. Wales is an extraordinary role model and supporter of the students, he is also firm.  He guides the students in the right direction under a pressure that is just intense enough to make us work.  That pressure is vitally important at a time in our lives when we are preparing to go into our future.  The pressure Mr. Wales puts on the student body to exceed expectations acts as just a taste of what many of us will encounter down the road.  It prepares us for “real-life.”  It’s hard to find someone who can apply that pressure to students and maintain a good relationship with them as well.

Mr. Wales’ reassignment also impacts me personally.  Like many kids, I was extremely anxious to grow up and get to high school, and that first day of high school my parents had to let me go into what at that time for me was “the real world”. But I know no matter how much my mom cried because we were growing up she had complete trust that Mr. Wales knew exactly what he was doing to ensure mine and my brother’s prosperity in high school and more importantly to ensure our safety.  And after 3 years at Central High, doing the announcements every morning in the front office, and now standing as school mascot “Willy the Wildcat,” I can’t imagine any other person waiting for me at the end of that stage to shake my hand and give me my diploma on that life changing day next year than Mr. Wales.

So, rather than removing a beloved Principal from the high school who over the past 27 years has been a teacher, assistant principal, and now principal; why not find someone who specializes specifically in college testing and preparation?  If the school board would allow Bob Wales to remain principal, it would maintain the balance that has been established.  The students would not be thrown a curve ball and have to adapt and form a relationship with an entirely new principal.  Mr. Wales would be able to continue doing something he loves doing and is good at: serving as principal of Central High.  By hiring someone who specializes in college preparation for the new position, it would only make things easier on the students.  While a specialist paves the road to college for the student body, Mr. Wales will apply the pressure to push us down that road that we are all so familiar with.

In conclusion, there is no doubt in my mind that when Mr. Wales said he there is nothing he would love more than to remain the principal at Central High, that it was truly meant from deepest part of his heart.

Again, I’d like to sincerely thank everyone here for their allotting me the time to speak tonight and for listening to my thoughts.