Snider tapped as Harrison principal
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Snider tapped as Harrison principal
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Polston is retiring this year after 34 years. Harrison’s new principal, Lee Snider, is 29 years old.
But age isn’t a factor for Snider.
“My confidence as a leader is found on my knowledge of instructional methods. I will rely on my knowledge of good instruction to help me lead the building well,” Snider said in an interview Monday afternoon.
The Warsaw School Board approved Snider as Harrison’s new principal on a two-year contract, with review after the first year, at the board’s regular meeting Monday night. His annual salary will be $70,000.
Snider currently is a fourth-grade teacher at Leesburg Elementary School.
Born in New Paris, Snider graduated from Fairfield High School. He majored in elementary education at Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion. In 2009, Snider earned his master’s degree in education leadership from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
He taught at New Paris Elementary for two years before joining the Leesburg staff five years ago.
“I’ve always wanted to impact the lives of students,” Snider said about becoming principal at Harrison. “I’m excited about the opportunity about being a principal because I get to play a part in the lives of 550 students instead of just 24.”
Snider said he was interested in taking over the Harrison principal position because the school had an outstanding leader in Polston.
“I would be excited about continuing that role of leadership in the building. I know it has an excellent staff and I am looking forward to working with them. I know Harrison has a lot of community involvement and I am excited about that,” Snider said.
His first goal as principal is to build a relationship with the staff, students and parents, Snider said.
“My second goal is to develop a vision of what Harrison is going to be, and align that vision with the vision of the corporation,” he said.
Snider said he loves being in the classroom and he’ll miss that, but he hopes to be very involved with the classrooms at Harrison.
“At Leesburg, the staff and students here are amazing, and they will be greatly missed,” he said.
Once Snider wraps up his teacher duties at Leesburg, he said he will start working with Polston on the transition to becoming Harrison’s principal. He said his principal contract starts in late July.
Polston and the Polston family have been very supportive of Snider taking over at Harrison, Snider said.
In a telephone interview, Randy Polston said, “When I got the news, I immediately felt like it was an answer to a prayer.”
Polston said he had prayed that whoever took over for him at Harrison would be a strong leader and a man of God he felt comfortable with. So when Polston was told that Snider would be his replacement, Polston said he felt like his prayers had been answered.
Polston and Snider have shared some e-mail and telephone conversations. Polston said Snider is very excited about the opportunity and has been on a roller coaster of feelings. Polston said Snider has asked him a lot of questions, and he provided Snider with his cell phone number so Snider can ask all of his questions.
Students, staff and parents all will fall in love with Snider, Polston said.
“It’s a load off my shoulders,” Polston said.
Like Polston, Snider’s faith is very important to him.
“In terms of my leadership, it’s also greatly influenced by my faith,” Snider said. “I will be committed to praying through the decisions I make and relying on God for strength throughout this transition and in the years to come as well.”
Snider has been married to his wife, Becca, for five years. She is a mental health therapist for Wawasee Community Schools. They attend Christ Covenant Church, Winona Lake, where he teaches Sunday School for adults and plays on the softball team.
“I want to say thank you to the school board and (Superintendent) Dr. (Craig) Hintz for this opportunity to serve Warsaw Community Schools. I’ve become an excellent teacher because of the opportunities provided by this school district, and I’m thankful I have an opportunity to give back to Warsaw,” Snider said.[[In-content Ad]]
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Polston is retiring this year after 34 years. Harrison’s new principal, Lee Snider, is 29 years old.
But age isn’t a factor for Snider.
“My confidence as a leader is found on my knowledge of instructional methods. I will rely on my knowledge of good instruction to help me lead the building well,” Snider said in an interview Monday afternoon.
The Warsaw School Board approved Snider as Harrison’s new principal on a two-year contract, with review after the first year, at the board’s regular meeting Monday night. His annual salary will be $70,000.
Snider currently is a fourth-grade teacher at Leesburg Elementary School.
Born in New Paris, Snider graduated from Fairfield High School. He majored in elementary education at Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion. In 2009, Snider earned his master’s degree in education leadership from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
He taught at New Paris Elementary for two years before joining the Leesburg staff five years ago.
“I’ve always wanted to impact the lives of students,” Snider said about becoming principal at Harrison. “I’m excited about the opportunity about being a principal because I get to play a part in the lives of 550 students instead of just 24.”
Snider said he was interested in taking over the Harrison principal position because the school had an outstanding leader in Polston.
“I would be excited about continuing that role of leadership in the building. I know it has an excellent staff and I am looking forward to working with them. I know Harrison has a lot of community involvement and I am excited about that,” Snider said.
His first goal as principal is to build a relationship with the staff, students and parents, Snider said.
“My second goal is to develop a vision of what Harrison is going to be, and align that vision with the vision of the corporation,” he said.
Snider said he loves being in the classroom and he’ll miss that, but he hopes to be very involved with the classrooms at Harrison.
“At Leesburg, the staff and students here are amazing, and they will be greatly missed,” he said.
Once Snider wraps up his teacher duties at Leesburg, he said he will start working with Polston on the transition to becoming Harrison’s principal. He said his principal contract starts in late July.
Polston and the Polston family have been very supportive of Snider taking over at Harrison, Snider said.
In a telephone interview, Randy Polston said, “When I got the news, I immediately felt like it was an answer to a prayer.”
Polston said he had prayed that whoever took over for him at Harrison would be a strong leader and a man of God he felt comfortable with. So when Polston was told that Snider would be his replacement, Polston said he felt like his prayers had been answered.
Polston and Snider have shared some e-mail and telephone conversations. Polston said Snider is very excited about the opportunity and has been on a roller coaster of feelings. Polston said Snider has asked him a lot of questions, and he provided Snider with his cell phone number so Snider can ask all of his questions.
Students, staff and parents all will fall in love with Snider, Polston said.
“It’s a load off my shoulders,” Polston said.
Like Polston, Snider’s faith is very important to him.
“In terms of my leadership, it’s also greatly influenced by my faith,” Snider said. “I will be committed to praying through the decisions I make and relying on God for strength throughout this transition and in the years to come as well.”
Snider has been married to his wife, Becca, for five years. She is a mental health therapist for Wawasee Community Schools. They attend Christ Covenant Church, Winona Lake, where he teaches Sunday School for adults and plays on the softball team.
“I want to say thank you to the school board and (Superintendent) Dr. (Craig) Hintz for this opportunity to serve Warsaw Community Schools. I’ve become an excellent teacher because of the opportunities provided by this school district, and I’m thankful I have an opportunity to give back to Warsaw,” Snider said.[[In-content Ad]]
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