Meeting Eric Cahan, SHS' New Principal
Written by Holli Welcker, No Bio on Saturday, September 17, 2016
Eric Cahan joins SHS for the second time as the principal for the 2016-2017 school year, following the footsteps of his friend and former colleague Dr. Beth Porter. He had joined the SHS faculty for the first time in 1996 in the English department, where he was also the advisor for the yearbook, as well as coached football, wrestling, and track.
He then went on to administration as the athletics director and later the assistant principal. He had played three different roles for the school throughout his first ten years at SHS. He then went on to be a principal for Granite Falls for fives years and then Lake Stevens for another five before coming back to the school that started his career. Cahan had gone through extensive interviews with SHS staff as well as the customary procedures in order to find the right fit between the school and the new principal.
What motivated you into applying and accepting the job position of principal with SHS?
I worked with Dr. Porter and she is a friend of mine, and she called me when she said she was going to make that change and said ‘You know this may be something you’re interested in.’ ‘Cause I’ve lived in the community for twenty years so, and still do, and so I said ‘Well, I’ll think about it and look into it,’ and I did and it just seemed like a great fit and so I did. And I’m thrilled to be here; I’m thrilled it worked out. Everyone’s been very nice.
What do you enjoy the most when it comes to working with high schoolers?
In general, I think that they’re positive, I think that they’re fun, I think that they’re passionate; and I really love providing for them an opportunity to see somebody in a role modeling, uh, in a role modeling role, if that makes sense. So, that is really important to me. And I like to have fun with them, you know? It’s fun, this is a fun job and I try to remind people that all the time.
Beth Porter was a great principal. Do you plan on continuing with her way of managing SHS or do you have your own unique ideas that you plan to put to work?
A little bit of both. The nice thing about being her friend is, I want to build on all the great things she did but I’m also who I am, we’re different people so I have a little different approach.
What strengths do you have that you think will help run this school?
I live in the community, I know a lot of the parents and I know a lot of the kids, and I’m also an outgoing person who likes to have fun and smile and I’m approachable, you know? So, I hope that those are attributes that will help.
What do you hope to achieve at SHS?
I’d really like to help support and build on the great academics that we have, and the great athletics that we have, and really build on the activities programs that we have, and really start to help develop interventions academically to help the kids that are struggling. That’s my primary goal.
What changes are in store for SHS, looking from a student’s perspective?
None. I think more of the same and more greatness. You know, that’s my goal is more greatness. I don’t have a lot of changes I’m going to bring to SHS.
