Forest Hills — Around the Central High conference room, aptly named “The Ranger Room,” are several large printed posters with the names of every student who attends the school.
The “Every Ranger Known” posters are part of the focus of the school’s new administration team: to build relationships with students so that the students know they are “seen, heard and cared for,” said Principal Jon Haga.
“So our mission this year is to make sure that we know every single student in this building by their face, by what they’re interested in personally, by their academics, and that they know they can come to us,” Haga said.
“Every week when we meet, we come back to these,” he said, pointing to the posters, “and so that’s kind of what roots us in the work that we do is our students, and as long as the three of us are on the same page, great things are going to happen here in Ranger country.”
This fall, Haga teamed up with Assistant Principal Jake Strotheide to join Central’s veterans: Assistant Principal John DeStefano and Athletic Director Jonathan Goei, to form the high school’s new administration team.
While new to Central High, Haga is known by many of the students; for the past three years he was principal at Central Middle. He has been in education for about 16 years, serving Chicago Public Schools and Grand Rapids Public Schools before coming to Forest Hills.
“When the opportunity came about to continue the work that we did there to support the amazing students we have here, I jumped at it,” Haga said of moving to the high school. He thinks the team will “make a difference for the lives of the kids and create these positive memories, and make sure that school is more than just a place where academics happen, but a place that is meaningful to them.”
Strotheide also is a familiar face in the Forest Hills community. His children attend schools in the district, and he helped build the softball program. A 2002 graduate of the former Wyoming Park High School, he has been in education for 13 years, most recently as Lowell High School’s assistant principal.
‘That’s kind of what roots us in the work that we do is our students, and as long as the three of us are on the same page, great things are going to happen here in Ranger country.’
— Central High Principal Jon Haga
“It was really the interview process, and meeting these guys,” Strotheide said of his decision to change districts after the start of school. He joined the team in November. “(They made me) feel comfortable that I could make that transition over here.”
Since the admin team’s goal is to get to know every student, SNN is turning the tables so the community can get to know the new members, with DeStefano joining in.
What are you excited about for this year? DeStefano said he is excited about Haga and Strotheide joining the team because of their passion for students. “It’s a unique blend of experience that will allow our kids to have a good experience every day. I think that’s really what’s important when you come to high school; it’s not all about academics, but what kind of experience (students) can have. I think we’re all on board to make sure they have a great experience every day.”
Haga added: “Each one of our experiences brings about a different aspect to this team, which really helps move what we do here forward, because without the knowledge of the great things our staff does, without the knowledge of different things different districts have done to push student learning forward, without the knowledge of the students that are currently in our building and the experience that we all bring, we’d be fighting different battles every day.
“So we make sure to be very intentional to bring all of our knowledge bases together to then make positive impacts for students.”
Favorite sandwich: Without hesitation, Haga said a reuben from the Ada Grill. French dip for Strotheide, and a California reuben for DeStefano.
Favorite school saying: For DeStefano, it’s “Embracing the opportunities to help kids.”
Strotheide likes “It’s a great day to have a great day.”
Haga said it’s the school’s slogan, “It’s a great day at CHS.” Though not every day is perfect, he said, “It’s always gonna be a great day here, … through the experiences that we provide our kids, the learning that our teachers support them in and the activities that they engage in.”
What are you doing to encourage student voices? Haga said there are many different opportunities for students to share their voices, including programs such as Student Council and the One Hat Committee, which brings student leaders and staff together to build a positive school environment.
DeStefano said the school has a robust media program for students to share their thoughts on a range of topics. “So anytime we get a chance to talk with kids, we’ll ask them what their opinion is or (ask) ‘From your perspective, how would you change something?’”
Name three great things going on in K-12 education: Strotheide said community involvement and student voices “are better than ever. We have a lot of students, in both districts that I’ve been in, (who are) trying to advocate for themselves in a positive way that would make their experience a much better experience for their time there.” He also noted the shift to expose students to career paths other than those achieved through a college degree, such as entrepreneurship and career and technical education.
Haga thinks the entire Forest Hills community is great at advocating for students and partnering with the schools to provide hands-on experiences, as well as creating more opportunities for students to share their thoughts. On a local level, he said, Central will start construction next year on a new building that will expand student opportunities.
Said DeStefano: “I think sometimes our youth don’t get the credit they deserve for how intelligent they are … Our kids are really smart kids, and I think they’re empathetic … They’re always there to support one another.”
So what is on your car playlist or do you have a favorite song? “I’m currently listening to ‘Gobble, Gobble’ on repeat,” Haga said, “because that is what my youngest son likes listening to.”
DeStefano, a former music teacher, said “everything from Post Malone to Michael Buble to Beyonce to Pentatonix to Charlie Parker, just because I’m the music guy. Taylor Swift is on there right now as well.”
And for Strotheide, “I have a song … this makes me happy in my life, and my friends will know this. So Rockapella back in the day did the Folgers coffee commercial. I could sing that word for word right now.”
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