After teaching for a dozen or so years, in the classroom with teenagers day in and day out, it might be easy to get burned out. But, that’s not the case for two men, professional teachers and coaches, who have taken the leap into administration.

Dwight Lundstrom and Dale Leach are two new assistant principals at Oak Harbor High School, both new to the role yet each undeniably qualified. Beyond the years of education and the earning of degrees and certificates, both men seem to have a keen understanding of a high schooler’s mind, a window providing a clear view into the teen psyche, and above all a deep devotion to making a difference in the lives of kids.

Lundstrom has been with the Oak Harbor School District for the past four years as a math teacher and girls basketball coach.

“I’ve done department head and teacher leadership,” Lundstrom said recently. “In my classroom every day I had the chance to impact 150 kids and 20 or 30 more on the court. I felt I could do more.”

Lundstrom had been going to school himself over the past couple of years. In May he earned his master’s degree from Western Washington University in school administration. This followed 14 years of teaching experience, which Lundstrom began after earning a bachelor’s degree in math and his teaching certificate from Colorado State University.

Leach is new to Oak Harbor School District, coming from Chehalis, where he taught social studies and physical education. Although he earned his master’s degree and administrator’s credential about five years ago, he opted to stay in the classroom a few more years to gain greater experience.

“For me, I just really love kids and being able to impact them in a positive way,” Leach said. As a teacher and coach, Leach said he had the opportunity to see kids succeed and grow. Now, as an administrator, he says he’ll be able to provide “a great atmosphere” for more students at a time.

Lundstrom agreed. “It’s an opportunity to make an effect and make it quicker,” he said.

Lundstrom and Leach will now be in a supervisory position over teachers as well as heading up direction and discipline for students. They say they intend to take a positive approach to both.

“I’m fresh out of the classroom,” Lundstrom said. “I’m fresh out of being peers with the people I’m now in charge of evaluating.” He said he intends to treat teachers professionally and with respect. “And I absolutely refuse not to do that,” he emphasized.

Leach intends to follow the golden rule when offering support to teachers.

“I hope I never lose the perspective of being teacher-friendly,” Leach said. “I know how I wanted to be treated in the classroom and I never want to lose that.”

Both men expressed a sincere desire to make the high school experience easier and more rewarding for students. Lundstrom is in charge of sophomores and juniors, and Leach is in charge of freshman. Principal Dick Devlin will oversee the senior class.

Both Lundstrom and Leach will have an open door policy when it comes to students’ needs.

“The hardest thing for me is that I’ve gotten to know my students over the past four years and build relationships with them,” Lundstrom said. “I’m going to miss them and I want to see them.”

Leach is taking the lead on the new Island Team, or “school within a school” concept, for freshman at the high school. The team teaching concept is expected to provide a more psychologically secure learning and social environment for freshman, who can often feel intimidated and overwhelmed with the start of high school. The program is designed to help students build “connections” with other kids and staff, increasing chances for success both socially and academically.

Both Lundstrom and Leach say they are looking forward to the start of school and the positive changes they hope to implement in the coming school year.

“One of the things I’m hoping to bring is a more positive attitude in the high school,” Lundstrom said.

“I have a vision for where we can go,” Leach said. “Make good things great.”