With Doug Duell’s retirement after the 2022-23 school year, the Warrensburg Junior/Senior High School is pleased to welcome Mr. Jeffery Holcomb to the district as the new principal. Principal Holcomb comes to us with an extensive career in education, serving as a principal in schools all over the world, and a spirit for making every school day enjoyable.
Taking the interview from his apartment in Qatar, Holcomb shared he was attracted to the school because of the strength of the community and the dedication of teachers to their students' well-being and how that aligned with his own leadership style.
“What frustrates me the most about schools is when they are for the adults and not the students. Decisions should be made with students in mind. I love that at Warrensburg, students are always central to the decisions here from administration, teachers, and parents,” shared Holcomb.
Starting his career as a social studies teacher in the Rochester area, Holcomb was pulled towards a leadership role because of his passion for curriculum. In 2005, Holcomb and his family moved from New York to East Africa so he could teach social studies and economics at the International School Moshi. During that time, the role of curriculum coordinator opened, and Holcomb was selected for the job. After serving the school for four years, the Holcomb's moved to Atlanta to be closer to extended family. There, Holcomb taught economics and social studies at the Atlanta International School before becoming Head for Grade 12, and later Principal of the Upper School.
Holcomb then worked in leadership roles as a high school principal in international schools located in South Korea, Beijing, and Qatar. Both of his daughters graduated from the international school in South Korea and began attending college back in the United States. The family decided it was time to close the international chapter and return home. That is when they found out about the opening in Warrensburg.
Holcomb aims to build stronger bonds between the community and the school by giving students more opportunities to give back and assuring that the school is sharing events and updates with the rest of the community.
Holcomb and his wife have three children together, two daughters and a son who is currently a junior at Warrensburg. Holcomb credits his approach as a principal to being a father himself and watching his own children attend the schools where he has been a principal.
“As an administrator, we think of steps we need to take to achieve long-term success. Being a father reminds me that each student only has one first day of seventh grade, one prom, one sophomore year, and we need to make it special for them. Having my own children and seeing the impact on the school can have on them when they come back from school at the end of the day drives home how important the every day is,” said Holcomb.
Over the summer, Holcomb has an open door to anyone that wanted to stop in. From this, he was able to connect with staff, summer school students, incoming seniors, and other members of the community who gave him information about our district and suggested what they would like to see in the coming year.
“Holcomb has a passion for education and the experience necessary to lead our Junior/Senior High School. Since he joined us, I have been able to see the connections he is already creating among the students and staff. I am confident that he will be a positive and collaborative addition to our team and will contribute to fulfilling the mission of the district,” says Superintendent Amy Langworthy.