Principal
Greg Smith

Parkes Robinson once said, “Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes.” This idea epitomizes our work at the High School this year. We share our dreams with students while they begin to realize their own. We want the very best experience for students, staff, and parents. Our partnership with all of you is the key to success. We can’t do anything in isolation. The major focus of our work this year has been on cultural change. We want to improve the way our students interact with each other, the way our staff works together and the way we communicate and build relationships with the community. We need to open our doors and windows and let people look in, listen, and get a true picture of what we’re doing here. We’re proud of our students and staff and want you to be as well. These kinds of partnerships are the key to the High School improving and moving forward. This year has been a year of successes. We have made some changes in our everyday processes, but most importantly, we have shared a positive sense of expectations for our students, given our staff more time to collaborate and work more closely together and we have begun the process of developing lasting relationships with our parents and community. As I stand on the balcony and watch the “dance”, I have to tell you that I can’t help but smile. We have accomplished a lot this year. As a new principal I need to thank all of you, my staff, the students and the community for your outreach and support. This job comes with a lot of hours, a lot of decisions and days that make a person feel like they did not accomplished anything positive, but it is also a job that allows me to feel a lot of support from all of you as we learn and grow together. The great days are many and the poor ones are few. It’s been a most glorious ride. My dad always told me that if you can’t do something really good, just sit down and do nothing at all. I feel like the chair has been empty this school year!

We believe we have been very successful this year in all of these endeavors. Our hallways sound more positive, our lunchroom has a lot more laughter, our classrooms are full of engaged learners and our professional development time has been both positive and productive. Students treat each other with dignity and respect and teachers are letting their guard down and interacting with their students. It is simply a great place to work!

My thanks to the staff at the High School for making my first year one that I will never forget. I have felt so embraced and appreciated by everyone. I also have valued my experiences with community businesses and families of our students. They have been more than supportive and share our vision for the future. Our parent group (ISpin) has been an enormous help and support for me as well. We have some time left to complete even more of our mission. But in the meanwhile, we are enjoying the fruits of our labor and we are all better for it. I look forward to many more years in this office. It has been the best experience of my career. My goal is to leave this building, someday, a much better place than when I came. Working together, we will make Fort Madison High School the premier learning institution that our kids deserve!