Newly appointed Clarke Central High School Principal Dr. Swade Huff addresses the CCHS faculty for the first time on May 23. Huff has high hopes about stepping into an administrative position in his hometown. “Y’all already have everything you need in place. Y’all already are a team and a family. I just hope that y’all embrace me into the Gladiator Nation family. That’s all I want,” Huff said. Photo by Kelly Fulford
Newly appointed Clarke Central High School Principal Dr. Swade Huff met with CCHS faculty and staff in the Mell Auditorium on the morning of May 23.
At 8:30 a.m. on May 23, Clarke County School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Demond Means hosted a faculty meeting at Clarke Central High School. In the meeting, he commended the work of outgoing CCHS Principal Marie Yuran, and introduced newly appointed CCHS Principal Dr. Swade Huff to teachers and staff.
“The candidate that we selected that was one of the two finalists, is someone who is a true Gladiator, a true champion through and through – someone who wanted to be back here, who wants to invest his time, his professional energy, his personal energy in making this school as great as you want it to be,” Means said. “It was critical to find someone who had the same amount of care, who would make sure that the type of culture that has been established here continues and then goes even higher.”
Huff, a 1991 CCHS graduate, spoke of his time in the school.
“Man, it feels good to be home. This is a surreal moment for me, a moment I’ve always dreamed about – not as a student when I graduated in 1991, but since I became an educator back in 2000,” Huff said. “(I was) born and bred in Athens, Georgia, (and) spent many nights as a kid looking between the signs on the football field to look at what Billy Henderson and his team was about to do to the opponent. Those are the type of memories I have near and dear my heart, here as a Gladiator.”
Math department teacher Dr. Elijah Swift, who was in attendance, believes that the school will benefit from having a principal who was once a CCHS student.
“(Huff) can relate to the students, even those who are most challenging. He can maybe speak the language to them that no one else can. Because, even with me, I can’t because I’m not from here, but he has a vested interest in the upbuilding of the school. I think he’ll be a great asset,” Swift said.
Huff considers himself a strict disciplinarian and plans to enforce the school’s Code of Student Conduct as principal.
“As far as expectations from the students: a level of respect. I definitely wanna make sure that when it comes down to it, we are cultivating an environment where kids can learn that certain behaviors in society are unacceptable. I have zero tolerance for disrespectful kids,” Huff said. “If it’s in the Code of Conduct, it’s gonna be addressed. I listen to parents all day long, fuss, cuss, rant, rave. I’ve seen and heard it all, but at the end of the day, please know that you will be supported.”
Math department Co-Chair Heather Julian feels that Huff’s strong approach to discipline will help address behavioral issues.
“I think that he sounds like he really wants to make sure our kids are acting right, and I really believe that if we can get our hallways a little more under control, Central will feel better to everybody, so I’m excited about that,” Julian said.
Huff says he plans to observe and assess the school before making changes.
“My job coming in is (to) learn from my team members, but at the same time, learn from my teachers that are here doing work from the frontline. That’s my goal. I don’t come in with a long list of things I want to change, because I think that’s the biggest mistake an administrator can make when they go into any learning environment,” Huff said. “You’ve gotta get an understanding of the culture and the climate that’s already in place, look at the things we’re doing well, tweak some of the things that we can improve on and proceed.”
Assistant Principal Dr. Sheila Dunham believes that Huff’s introduction to CCHS staff was a success.
“(His introduction went) great. He said he doesn’t talk a lot, but I think what he said was perfect. He’ll give this job 100 percent and he’s got a great team to support him,” Dunham said. “I mean, definitely, because he’s never been here as an administrator, he’s gonna have to depend on all of us that have been here for all kinds of information, and we’re just gonna be here to give him whatever help he needs.”
After stints in Newton and Barrow Counties, Huff is excited to return home.
“(Finding out I was selected was) like a dream. I was shocked, and once I came out of my numb state, I had community support. I had people calling me, people texting me, at church people coming up to me and congratulating me. I’m just excited,” Huff said. “Home is where the heart is and my approach is gonna be to come in and support the entire Athens-Clarke County community as a whole.”
Clarke Central High School Assistant Principal Dr. Sheila Dunham, Math department Co-Chair Heather Julian and Math department teacher Dr. Elijah Swift respond to newly appointed CCHS Principal Dr. Swade Huff’s first address at a faculty meeting on May 23. Huff has high hopes about stepping into an administrative position in his hometown. “Y’all already have everything you need in place. Y’all already are a team and a family. I just hope that y’all embrace me into the Gladiator Nation family. That’s all I want,” Huff said. Package produced and compiled by Kelly Fulford.
