Riverview High School Principal (name not provided) said the move into school leadership was gradual and driven by encouragement from colleagues, and that daily interactions with students, staff and families set the tone for the building’s culture. "I thought I was gonna be in the classroom as a teacher and retire in the same classroom that I started teaching in," the principal said, adding that support from others helped lead to the current role.
The principal described one early moment of restored community life in February, during Black History Month, after e‑learning and hybrid schedules and while mask mandates were beginning to be lifted. "It was pretty much our first group event...it felt like half the school was there," the principal said, describing students dancing and cheering in a campus gathering. The principal said those interactions "permeate from the building principal and how they interact with everybody" and influence academics, athletics and student clubs.
The principal urged aspiring administrators to seek varied leadership and collaborative problem‑solving experiences. "Be hungry for opportunities," they said, noting that even after becoming a principal they continue to learn from day‑to‑day challenges and coaching staff through new situations. The principal also said they returned to Riverview after a one‑year absence because of the students and staff: "We have the best students in the district bar none," the principal said.
No formal board action or policy decision was discussed in the remarks. The principal characterized the school's progress as ongoing, emphasizing that teachers, staff and community members remain central to addressing challenges and shaping student experience.