It is no secret among the Graded student body that Mr. Bordelon, our current High School Principal, will be leading a different school starting in August of 2026. In a commendable and refreshing attempt to include students in the major decision of finding our next principal, the High School Student Council was invited to meet with a few prospects for the role, as was a select group of Student Ambassadors. Although the search for our next principal is still ongoing at the time this piece is being written, the thorough and truly wholehearted conversations held by the Student Council (especially since their goal is to represent their grades and the high school as a whole) and other participating students stand out as especially meaningful. After all, what do Graded students want in their next principal? Consider this piece and its attempt at a fly-on-the-wall perspective as one possible answer to that question.
If one were to ask any Graded student what their favorite part of Graded is, it is likely that they would reply with “community.” Graded definitely has a reputation for its welcoming student body, possibly due to the many initiatives (PGC, New Student Orientation, Casa Maria Helena, etc.) that students pour themselves and their time into to uphold that sense of belonging. Community is intertwined in our daily lives from every angle. Nevertheless, what does it actually mean to build a community, and more importantly, to preserve it? Instead of relying solely on the larger traditional events Graded hosts, this student would argue that a community is actually built on the little things: greetings from teachers in the hallways, small conversations between blocks, and reminders that students matter amid coursework that can sometimes feel discouraging. According to the High School Student Council, it’s this attention to detail that students truly hope to see in a principal.
There’s always some type of event occurring at Graded, whether it be sports games, bake sales, or art exhibitions. Therefore, almost paradoxically, a community that is more tight-knit than many others can sometimes feel too large and daunting. In a school where something is always happening, connection is about more than just activity. Students described wanting not just a principal who oversees events, but one who is present within them. A principal who watches students’ games and makes themselves available to discuss them with players in the hallway. A principal who attends orchestra concerts often enough to feel proud when a hardworking student earns a solo. One who remembers their student body by name.
That presence, however, extends beyond simply being seen. Students repeatedly emphasized that visibility only matters if it is paired with genuine listening. A principal who listens actively signals that student voices are valued, which increases the amount of authentic feedback they receive. Our current principal, for example, greets students every morning in the Student Center. It’s that extra mile beyond simple bureaucracy that students truly value. We are part of an extremely dynamic school, and our next principal must be willing to fully take it in. Part of that means acknowledging that Graded students have lives beyond grades and schedules, and that they are eager to share those lives if the right questions are asked. Students want a principal who continues to make them feel known and reminds them that they are people worth remembering.
Transitions in leadership always bring change, but they also reveal what matters most. What students have made clear is that Graded, like “every student, every heart, [and] every mind” that makes up the school, is a spirited and lively culmination of traditions, events, and programs. The next principal will inherit more than a school; they will inherit an ambitious community fueled by small moments of kindness and care. And if that community is to continue thriving, it will need a high school principal who understands one fundamental truth: belonging is built from the inside out, and it begins with a simple hello.
Image: Graded website
