Making the jump from little hands to big minds, Katelyn Richert is now filling the role of the assistant principal for the class of 2028.

While there can be a huge shift from elementary school to high school, Mrs. Richert recognizes that students throughout all schools want and deserve the same things.

No matter the location, she knows that everyone wants to feel safe and loved when they are at school.

“Kids are kids, no matter how old they are,” Mrs. Richert said.

Mrs. Richert has already begun working to make the students feel supported in this way.

“Every morning, she says hi to everyone at the door, and at lunch she does pretty much the same,” freshman Norah Starbuck said.

The current freshman class is “one of the largest classes ever,” so Mrs. Richert’s goal is to get to know each of the students throughout their four years at EHS.

She encourages students to get involved to meet people and find things they enjoy.

“I don’t want anyone to feel alone because they shouldn’t be,” Mrs. Richert said. “There are enough people to go around.”

Mrs. Richert is working to find a balance between having empathy and regulating student behavior.

“Kids have to understand what’s expected of them, and they have to know there are always consequences whether that’s good consequences or bad,” Mrs. Richert says.

English teacher Deanne Voegele discusses the importance of Mrs. Richert understanding where the students are coming from as she handles discipline.

Mrs. Voegele’s advice to Mrs. Richert is to “Try to get out there. Get the full experience that the kids get.”

She does not want to limit her reach to just the grade level she is assigned to, but she hopes to make others feel like they can come to her for support regardless of who their assistant principal is.

“I don’t want to just see you when you ‘do something bad,’” Mrs. Richert said. “I want to know when you’re having a great day… if your boyfriend asked you to homecoming… when you ace a test and stuff like that.”

Mrs. Richert says she is excited to be here, which students and staff consider to be a huge part of her impact.

“She did come off as passionate about her job,” freshman Ian Kim said.

Mrs. Voegele is also greeted by her every morning and has acknowledged the energetic and personable spirit she possesses.

She wants students to feel like they are supported at school every day.

“She’s very nice and seems to really care about the EHS student body,” Starbuck said.

Mrs. Richert tries to be a role model because she knows what it is like to have them.

Stacey Lipe was her third-grade teacher and the one to inspire her to be a teacher.

She originally taught second grade for 10 years, kindergarten for one and fourth grade for another year.

“I always thought I would stay with the littles,” Mrs. Richert said.

She decided to come here in hopes that she could make a bigger impact.

“Students have to feel loved, nurtured and safe…before they can even learn from their classroom teacher,” Mrs. Richert said.