This year, HC is welcoming two new members of the administrative staff. BJ Martin is one of the new associate principals, and she is mainly responsible for the freshman class. She has been an administrator for 19 years, and has previously been employed with FCPS.
“The last three years I have been an administrator at [Winburn] Middle School,” Martin said. “So far, it’s just been really great [at HC].”
During her transition from middle school to high school, Martin found the fast-paced days to be a challenge.
“The fast paced nature of the day [is a challenge],” Martin said. “After lunch I’m like ‘the day is gone’, so just kind of getting into the swing of a faster schedule.”
Martin’s background in education also includes teaching as well as administration.
“I started out as an elementary teacher a long, long time ago in eastern Kentucky,” Martin said. “Then I became a curriculum coach after that for the district, and primarily supported in elementary school at that time.”
Part of Martin’s responsibilities as an administrator is to provide support for teaching in the classroom.
“I do a lot of instructional support for teaching which is something I’m really passionate about and enjoy doing, ” Martin said. “Mr. Riley and I especially work closely together to provide some strong support around teaching. [Riley and I] make sure what students are doing and learning in class is fun, engaging, and relevant.”
One of Martin’s goals for HC is that she wants to see the school back on top of other schools in the county.
“Historically HC, a long time ago, used to be at the top of all high schools in Fayette County,” Martin said. “I would like to see us back up on the top academically, because I think that we certainly have the capability.”
As a new point of view coming to HC, Martin believes that the culture at HC is already a warm and welcoming one.
“Well the culture is already a great culture at [HC], everyone has been so warm and welcoming to me from students, to families, to staff members,” Martin said. “I want to continue if not strengthen that, and kind of build on all of the things that are happening right now.”
Overall, Martin looks forward to continuing her first year at HC and is looking forward to getting to know the entire HC community throughout the year.
