Former Gig Harbor dean gets NK High School assistant post

POULSBO — The phrase, “It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it,” could very well describe the vacant assistant principal’s position at North Kitsap High School, a post which includes overseeing the school’s disciplinary actions.

To Chad Collins, that’s exactly the job he was looking for.

“I enjoy working with a student that has made a poor choice,” Collins said. “Working with him or her after an incident is done, and then maintaining a relationship with them.”

Collins, who was acting assistant principal at Gig Harbor High School, was recently hired to take that very post at North Kitsap High School.

A 1992 South Kitsap High School graduate and an Allyn resident, Collins received an associate of the arts degree from Olympic College before earning degrees in biology and education at Eastern Washington University. He began teaching at-risk youths at Maple Lane High School in Centralia upon graduating.

He’s been the dean of students at Gig Harbor High School since 2002, before taking the temporary assistant principalship at the school when a co-administrator fell ill.

The North Kitsap job will be his first permanent assistant principal post.

“I enjoy working with kids and I like the high school level,” Collins said. “I like watching kids evolve into positive young adults.”

Collins will replace Susan Wistrand at NKHS, who was transferred to be the part-time assistant principal at both Poulsbo Elementary and Kingston Junior High School.

Collins said one emphasis he’ll have right out of the gates this fall will be involvement in various school activities.

“I will be highly visible, whether it’s at athletic events or band concerts,” he said. “I’ll be extremely involved.”

Collins said the aspect of the job he’s most looking forward to at North Kitsap is to help students get through any barriers they face — even when they don’t make the best choices.

“I just enjoy working with students and helping them realize there are consequences for actions,” he said. “And it’s exciting when they get that (concept). It’s cool to watch them mature, maintain, and see them grow.”

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