by: Gracie Currin

SANFORD – Robert Newby has returned to Lee County High School as principal ready to make multiple improvements to the school.

Newby was principal at East Lee Middle School for two years and made significant improvements to that school. On June 12, the Lee County school board decided it was time to move Newby from middle school to LCHS.

He is someone who takes pride in his job and always looks for ways to do it better.

“I don’t get up in the morning and dread coming to work. I love coming to work,” Newby said. 

He has multiple plans for the school in the upcoming years. While safety is his top priority, discipline is a huge issue that he is working to get under control. “My first priority is to get the discipline under control at Lee County High School,” Newby explained. 

Discipline is a significant problem in many schools including LCHS. Newby is determined to put the right rules in place to reduce those issues, whether it is students skipping class, cell phone use, or students smoking on campus.

The new principal is strictly enforcing the rules that haven’t been enforced in recent years. He is consistently making sure positive change is taking place at LCHS. “Once we get the changes in place and we’re doing them with fidelity, I think you’ll see the positives of change,” said assistant principal Rachel Robotham.

Fellow AP Lucas Yerger agrees with Robotham. Both are certain that Newby is taking his leadership role seriously. Robotham and Yerger both have high expectations for Newby regarding leadership, visibility, and consistency. “Providing strong leadership, which is happening,” Yerger said. 

Newby has demonstrated his ability to lead by bringing a reliable presence to the school. “Consistency is something that I think we were lacking last year. I think Mr. Newby provides that,” Robotham mentioned. 

According to the State Dept. of Public Instruction, LCHS current is graded as a C school. Newby has a long term goal of eventually getting a grade of an A. “My goal is to move Lee County High School from a C school to a B and eventually an A,” Newby stated. If LCHS continues to get a better letter grade it will show the significant changes that have been made by Newby.

In order for the school grade to improve, for the school to be safer, and for students to get an effective education, Newby must have a reliable team and reliable teachers. It is vital that everyone does what is asked and expected of them. “If I have a team underneath me and the right teachers underneath them and the right students underneath them, then we can soar,” Newby commented.

The admin team at LCHS is also expected to ensure the safety of students and make sure that teachers are following rules and doing as they are told. “I rely on my admin team to help me make sure the teachers are doing what they’re doing,” Newby remarked.  

Newby’s expectations for everyone involved at LCHS is very high. He knows what he needs to do to continue improving the school. “Just as Mr.Newby demands more from students and staff, he’s demanding more from us too,”  Yerger said. 

Newby has already made an impact on the school, providing a positive environment for students and staff. His team he has under him has confidence in his abilities to make LCHS a better place. His strong leadership traits have set him up for success.