Governor Patrick's Declaration of October as Principal's Month Prompts Recent Graduate to Honor SRVTHS Principal

High School is seen as many different things by many different people. It is arguably the most formative years of a young person’s life and where they are shaped into the people they’ll be in their adult lives. High School is a collection of experiences, such as slumbering in class and going to prom, and a collection of influences, such as that one really cool janitor who has the mustache, and the teachers whose advice will stay with you forever. My experience too was a collective one, with the exception that Mr. Wheeler was one of my biggest influences, and it certainly is an experience to know him.

The Mr. Wheeler I’m referring to is of course Mr. David Wheeler, principal of my former high school, Southeastern Regional. Part Liberal Hippy College Professor and part Educational Theorist, Mr. Wheeler is undoubtedly one of the most dedicated, hardworking, and humorous people I’ve ever met and is what every person in education should strive to be.

One of my favorite anecdotes about Mr. Wheeler regards his alleged first action as principal; apparently, before he took the job, there were no doors on any bathroom stalls in the school. Not a single one. Mr. Wheeler, upon seeing this, shuttered with disgust and immediately ordered doors to be placed on all bathroom stalls, thus cementing his place in the hearts of every student in the school. I have no idea how embellished the story is, but it truly speaks to Mr. Wheeler’s character and leadership. He has the unique ability to truly understand what it’s like to be a student and then make decisions based on not just what is good for the school, but what is in the best interest of the pupils. It is not a rare sight to see him sitting with kids during lunch and asking them about their classes and how they themselves are doing. He is someone who genuinely cares about every student who walks through the doors of the school and he does a fantastic job of making it known to them.

Through his administration, Southeastern has not only undergone a complete physical renovation, but an educational one as well. It is now a Level One school in regards to academic performance, which is something that Mr. Wheeler has put a great deal of work and effort into achieving through providing tremendous academic support structures and resources for students across the school. I witnessed these efforts first hand, as I was chosen by Mr. Wheeler to be the student representative on Southeastern’s School Committee. This was an experience that taught me invaluable lessons in leadership and gave me an opportunity to actively participate in my school system. Mr. Wheeler has also made amazing strides in expanding vocational education in the school, which is something that I owe a great deal to him for. The vocational program I called home for my high school career was Performing Arts, which was the brainchild of Mr. Wheeler himself. Because of his commitment to the arts in education and vocation, I am now studying at one of the nation’s top acting schools. My story is not unique in that the incredible support I had from Mr. Wheeler to pursue my dream is something that he extends to all students at Southeastern, whether they are future auto mechanics or future engineers.

I cannot honestly say what Mr. Wheeler does at the school, as far as his actual job, because it usually takes place behind his office door; but I can assure you that he does it right and it shows up everywhere, especially in the school’s culture. I know that I owe a great deal to him for being my mentor, academic adviser, and role model, as do many, many others. So, I would like to extend my  extreme gratitude to Mr. Wheeler on the behalf of the entire student body of Southeastern, and I would like him to please keep up the good work.