Born and raised in Chicago, Principal Jonathan Haga “lost the war” to his wife upon moving from the bustling city to suburban Michigan, where she is originally from. Haga—a proud Chicago Bears fan who knows they will win the Super Bowl this year—chose to relocate once he had children of his own.
“When I first moved here from Chicago, it was a bit of a culture shock,” Haga said. “All of a sudden, I can’t go grocery shopping until noon on Sundays because nothing is open. Going to the store is now a two-hour adventure instead of a quick 30-minute trip. But, I love it here. I can’t imagine raising my own kids anywhere else, [and] I can’t imagine working anywhere else.”
Prior to leaving the city, Haga worked in the Chicago Public Schools district—the third largest district in the nation. Specifically, he worked in Logan Square, which had seven schools, each of which was part of its own extensive network.
As can be expected with such a vast number of students, the district cultivated many innovative practices. However, being so immense, this innovation naturally came from the “top-down,” allowing minimal personal involvement in decision-making.
Naturally, FHC is less hectic than Chicago Public Schools. Because of his relocation, Haga has been enthusiastic about the larger part he now gets to play in the education system.
“Here [in] Forest Hills, we’re able to create innovation,” Haga said. “[We can] work for what individual students need. [We get to] create systems of support, not only for our students but for our staff and community. I feel like there’s a lot more ability to be creative and really make some great shifts for kids [at FHC].”
Typically, a career in administration isn’t as common of a “dream job” as the career of teaching itself. Similarly, it cannot be as clearly defined. The profession can entail a vast number of duties, leaving people wondering what a principal actually does in a day.
However, the way Haga describes his career perfectly explains the appeal and mission of the occupation.
Haga began his journey of working with kids coaching water polo in the Godwin Heights school district—a sport he played throughout his own educational career. In doing so, he discovered the influence that an incredible teacher or coach can have on a child (in addition to leading the team to the Junior Olympics, of course).
As he ventured further into the complexities of the education field, he began to discover that, even more so than teaching itself, he was intrigued by the leadership behind learning.
“I wanted to be a teacher [at one time],” Haga said. “I wanted to be the best teacher I could be, and I wanted to make sure that I had deep relationships with kids. It wasn’t until I started venturing out and diving into some of the pedagogy behind teaching that I realized that [the work of a principal] is a passion of mine. I enjoy this energy; I enjoy not just implementing systems and supports for kids but also being part of creating them and helping to be a part of the system that allows kids to be successful. I don’t have a direct impact on 1,000 students in this building—the teachers do. Being able to help create systems and supports for teachers to be successful, to help students be successful, is something that I [find] really rewarding.”
Now, being the top authority of a school filled with over a thousand people, Haga’s job is a large responsibility. From making sure events are executed to managing the day-to-day operations of the school, the role of the principal comes with its set of unique challenges.
While CHS is a school that undoubtedly prides itself on its school spirit and extensive student involvement, there are still areas that demand continued assistance. Primarily, making sure that all members of FHC feel a part of the school culture.
Upon seeing data of the number of students who feel outcast, he knew his prime mission was to increase the school’s camaraderie.
“I look forward to taking a look at all of our traditions [at FHC],” Haga said. [We will] dive into who they benefit and who is not feeling seen with them. [We will] not get rid of any traditions but make sure that every student has the opportunity to be a part of them. We have some amazing things we do here at FHC, and I want to make sure that every student has the opportunity to feel that sense of community.”
With this mission at heart, it’s no surprise that his favorite aspect of his new position is the students themselves.
Arguably the biggest reason that Haga took the job at the high school was because he already knew three of the classes at the high school. Having been principal at CMS in past years, he is already familiar with the majority of the student body. Being acquainted with the youngest grade levels—and quickly getting to know the graduating seniors—Haga has already been trying to connect as much as possible with students.
So far, Haga has gotten the opportunity to attend sports matches with his own children, dive into meetings with the Student Council, and grill food with seniors at the senior cookout.
While Haga’s involvement at FHC spans across multiple different disciplines, the common factor throughout all of them is the relationships he gets to forge with the students through them.
“The best thing [about being a principal] is getting to sit down with kids,” Haga said. “Being a part of the kids’ learning [is the best thing about my job]. In two weeks here, I’ve already felt like I’ve been part of the students’ personal journeys through school. Things like that are what builds memories and makes kids want to come to school every day. I’m looking forward to continuing to do that.”
