Principal Douglas Nelson was placed on administrative leave starting Friday, Dec. 6. Dr. Joseph Bostic Jr, an assistant principal at Northwood High School, stepped in as acting principal starting Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Dr. Bostic said he is unsure how long he will be here. “I honestly don’t know [how long I’ll be here], but we can work to build on the incredible foundation and pave the way for even greater achievements regardless,” Dr. Bostic said.
Dr. Bostic said he intends to see the school’s goals through. “My goal is to foster a community where everyone feels valued and supported, with priorities to promote student equity and access for all. Together, we’ll build on the legacy of our school’s success and work towards even greater achievements for our entire Patriot community,” Dr. Bostic said.
Students who have had a chance to meet and talk with him have nothing but kind words. “He seems like a pragmatic guy who genuinely cares and who is thinking about ways to connect with people. It didn’t feel like he was just talking to us. It felt like there was some real intention and potentially some ideas to actually make a difference,” senior class President Noah Friedman said.
Dr. Bostic said he wants to connect and relate to this school’s students and let them know who he is. “I am from Georgia, and I love the Georgia Bulldogs. Ironically, this school’s mascot is the Patriots. A funny story: My NFL football team is the Atlanta Falcons, and two or three years ago played the New England Patriots. [the Falcons] were winning 23- 3, and the Patriots came back to defeat the Falcons. I’ve been sad about it ever since,” Dr. Bostic said.
Growing up in Georgia is a big part of Dr. Bostic’s personality. “My first impression of him was that he was a very caring guy who had some values that were deep set. He referenced several times that he is from Georgia and wants to bring the family and cultural values he grew up with to our school,” Friedman said.
Dr. Bostic said he is excited to be here and intends to make a difference. “My purpose in being here is to believe in the power of community collaboration and a shared vision for student success. As students, staff and community, we can create a thriving environment where every patriot feels seen, heard and inspired to reach their full potential,” Dr. Bostic said.
Dr. Bostic has been making his rounds and meeting staff and students. “I was impressed by his connection to the kids. He really listened, he asked questions, listened to their responses and listened to their input. For some specific questions, I felt a positive, respectful interaction between him and the students. I got a very positive energy from him, and I think he’s going to help our school a lot,” social studies teacher Amy Buckingham said.
