Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
New HEM principal is enjoying his new position
Eli Hobbs was made Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School principal when Steve Priest retired in late September.
Hobbs has had a few months to learn to understand the job with a lot of help from many. He has been pleasantly surprised how many people were around to help adjust to the new position.
"I thought I was going to have to figure out everything on my own," Hobbs said. "There was some of me doing that, but the tsunami of the learning curve has been lessened by those who helped me walk through much of it."
He said the staff, the kids, the parents and people of the community have offered to help him where they can.
"I knew people would be helpful," Hobbs said. "But it has been surprising how helpful this has been."
On the scholastic side of his job, Hobbs, has felt comfortable. The area he feels has probably been the most challenging is understanding the athletics of the school.
"I knew what went on with athletics and the students, but that doesn't mean I understood the timing, the practices and the medical side of it," Hobbs said. "Then there is the logistics of making it happen, plus the rules and regulations. That whole side was a tremendous learning curve. Luckily for me, Travis Ward has totally picked it up and taken the lead with it and made it where it makes sense to me."
He said the coaches have also been helpful to him about this too.
"My staff is excellent in the school. I have teachers that know the ins and the outs of their subjects. Now that I am seeing their plans, helping with their plans, I see the dedication that they have and it is way more than I ever realized before."
Hobbs is excited with how STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is being done through science teacher Kaitlan Lasrson's collaboration with the University of Wyoming.
"She has done a fantastic job," Hobbs said. " What she has done with University and bringing people here has been amazing. She is just a prime example of the type of people who are in this building and know what students need and then make it happen."
Hobbs said he has introduced a program, students of the week–beyond the normal.
"One student won because he helped a student on crutches. He carried this person's books and helped him get around. It was volunteered without any asking," Hobbs said. "One time it was a student picking up trash, even though no person told him to do it. The idea is to amplify these students' good spirits."
Hobbs will tell you, he still has much to learn but he is happy to be in the job.
"This school I really feel has exceptional people housed inside it," Hobbs said. "I feel lucky to be a part of it all."
Reader Comments(0)