Hamburg Area Middle School students will see a new yet familiar face as their principal starting this school year. Dr. Shawn Fitzpatrick who has been serving as the Tilden Elementary Center principal for the past school years will now move up to the middle school as Kenneth Buck, former middle school principal, went onto another district.
‘I’m most excited about knowing many of the students and families from our time together in elementary,’ said Fitzpatrick. ‘I hope they realize that I am always available to listen to their concerns and ideas and that I will do everything in my power to keep the middle school a place that students want to be every day. I believe we had a positive atmosphere at Tilden because of the amazing staff there and am confident we can maintain that same environment at the middle school based on what I know about the staff that’s in place there.’
Fitzpatrick is no stranger to the schools in the Hamburg Area School District. Entering into his 17th year in public education, he started with Hamburg in January 2004. Since that time he has served as a principal in multiple buildings including Hamburg Elementary, Upper Bern Elementary and Tilden Elementary in both the former and the current buildings.
Experience in the school district and having seen a good number of these students and families during his time at the elementary level as well as great staff has helped to make the transition to middle school principal for the first time a bit easier on Fitzpatrick.
‘I think it will be because I’m working alongside Dr. McGorry [Hamburg Area Middle School principal] who has been a part of the middle school since 1996,’ replied Fitzpatrick on if the transition was easier in the same district. ‘He has already taken me under his wing to help me learn more about the philosophy of teaming and the research behind the aspects of developing a successful environment for young adolescents, both academically and socially.’
Fitzpatrick is ready and excited for the start of the new school year and is looking forward to the first day of school on Aug. 25 and Meet the Teacher night on Sept. 3 at 5:45 p.m.
He is looking to see the students succeed this year and to grow as young men and women.
‘I’m really looking forward to seeing students entering our front doors with smiles on their faces and an eagerness to learn something new every day,’ he said. ‘My goals are very specific and relative to student progress and growth. There is NO excuse for ANY student to fail and we need to do our part in preparing these young men and women to capitalize on their individual skills. Bottom line, we can invest in them now and produce productive citizens someday, or we can pay a far greater price in years to come if we don’t.’
Though he is within the same school district and is familiar with the students and families, there are differences between the elementary age and middle school age.
‘It’s a lot like landing a plane in that it’s all in the approach. You would approach landing a small single-engine plane different than you would approach landing a large jet, but either way they are both coming out of the air sooner or later,’ he replied when asked how his approach will be different this year. ‘I believe all students are capable of learning regardless of age, but the approach used to reach them may look different. Young adolescents have more distractions in their lives than ever before. They also have access to resources and technology that we must embrace and learn how to integrate into our daily operations. I will certainly count on the expertise of the teachers that have worked at this level and take time to learn more as we get the school year going.’
Fitzpatrick is eager for the start of the new school year and is ready to take on the new challenge as a middle school principal.
With Fitzpatrick moving to the middle school and Perry Elementary Center set to open this year school year, elementary schools are beginning Sept. 2 instead of Aug. 25 due to the construction, Dr. Shawn Gravish and the Perry students will not be in Tilden this year (as well as fifth grade going back to their respective elementary schools). The school district is currently searching for a principal for Tilden Elementary Center.