In the fall of 2023, Hempfield High School welcomed its new 11th-grade principal, Mrs. Amy Secor. While she introduced herself at the start-of-year assembly, few students took the initiative to learn more about her. As a result of their curiosity, on January 23rd, Mrs. Secor was interviewed and shared her experience in school administration.
From an early age, she always had a passion for being a school administrator. As a child, she enjoyed playing school with her siblings and would often take on the role of the teacher. Her desire to become an educator was fueled by the positive experiences she had with her teachers. In second grade, she had a teacher who was both caring and organized, and this left a lasting impression on her. Although she doesn’t remember much from that year, she always wanted to be like her teacher and provide the same level of support and guidance to her future students.
After completing her education, she started teaching English to middle school students. Later, she became a reading specialist because she wanted to help people, knowing that reading could be a challenge for some. She wanted to find new ways to help other kids learn how to read better and support them in achieving their goals. After a few years, she started a family and decided to look for a new job. That’s when she took on the role of a reading specialist at Elizabethtown High School, which was a bit different but equally rewarding.
The new class aimed to assist students who failed their state tests, but only a few seem interested in taking it, probably due to other enjoyable elective classes. Especially because it wasn’t an exciting class, it was a difficult task to engage the students and help them learn effectively. As the teacher, she was determined to come up with innovative ways and activities that would inspire the students to participate and comprehend the significance of acquiring knowledge.
In her previous job, she realized that the students did not understand the importance of passing the test. As a result, she made an effort to build relationships with them and demonstrate how passing the test could benefit them. Although learning the material was crucial, she also wanted the students to know that she cared about their success and well-being. During her tenure, she worked as an instructional coach, where she assisted teachers in improving their teaching methods. She found this job fulfilling since it allowed her to help both teachers and students. She compares this role to that of a sports coach, where the coach helps athletes improve their skills. Similarly, as an instructional coach, she helped teachers improve their teaching methods, which, in turn, benefited the students. She was inspired by the leadership qualities of the high school principal and encouraged to pursue a principal certificate. After completing the program at Millersville, she accepted an open position at an elementary school.
After interviewing for and accepting a new principal role at an elementary school within the district, she found herself outside of her comfort zone. Despite her preference for secondary education, she saw her new position as an opportunity for growth. After transferring into the role of an assistant Elementary school Principal, she found herself enjoying the opportunity to learn and grow in the position for about three years, of working through COVID. Despite her love for secondary education and her goal of becoming a high school principal, she had to adapt to the challenges of teaching young learners online and coaching teachers on how to do the same. She utilized the tools and skills from her instructional coaching job to help her navigate the new situation.
Eventually, she was able to return to her home school district as a middle school principal. However, her aspirations for high school leadership remained strong. After two years in the position, she was offered an opportunity by a former principal to work for a company outside of schools, helping teachers and school leaders reach state standards. Although she enjoyed the work, the frequent travel became too taxing for her and her family, with 90 plane rides and over 200,000 miles in just eight months. She decided to quit and secured a job at Hempfield High School.
As a high school leader, she has found the experience to be fulfilling. Her previous experiences have prepared her well for this journey, and she believes that it has helped her grow. When asked about what makes Hempfield unique, she mentioned that the school is much larger than any she had been in before. This made it even more important for her to build connections with all the students and create an atmosphere where they feel comfortable talking to her. According to her, being a school leader in all grades K through 12 is unique, and it has given her a lot of perspective. She acknowledges that it’s easy to feel lost in the school, especially with the large number of people in it.
During the interview, Mrs. Secor spoke about her efforts to connect with both students and staff at the High School. She emphasized the importance of creating positive relationships, even if they are brief, as they can significantly impact the school’s overall atmosphere. According to her, all the principals support each other and work together to guide and help each other where needed. This is one of the reasons why she loves being at the High School – she wants to help others feel cared for, just as she did during her own time in high school.
Secor also spoke about the deep love and care that the staff at the High School have for their students. Although it’s difficult to quantify how much each teacher cares for each specific student, she believes that the teachers and staff demonstrate their commitment to student success in various ways. She loves the positive energy and passion the teachers bring to the classroom, cafeteria, and library.
Overall, Mrs. Amy Secor has had a wonderful experience as a principal of Hempfield High School. She is passionate about her work and deeply committed to creating a positive and caring environment for students and staff alike.
