Principal John Fote sat for a beginning-of-the-year interview with the Broadside early in September. He reflected on the past year and discussed his focuses for the upcoming year.
He stated that he has three main goals for the 2022-23 school year: attendance, teaching, and learning. He said he would like each student to have the opportunities to develop into a well- rounded individual; he believes learning is a big part of that process.
Fote assumed his role as RHHS principal on December 1, 2021, shortly after former principal Mario Almeida left for a new assignment.
“I had one goal,” Fote said about his role in his first year. “My goal was to watch the school for a year and take a step back because it is a good school that functions well.”
After stepping back and seeing how all the pieces fit, he said he would have a better idea of where he wanted to focus his energy.
“You don’t touch what works,” he said. “You just kind of tweak here and there and so it’s hard as a leader.”
Fote said he’d never seen such dedicated students anywhere else; once, he walked into the cafeteria and heard a student saying, “It’s y = mx+b … that’s the formula!” He said he found it refreshing to see kids wanting to learn.
Fote said he is impressed with the communication skills of the students and how well they interact with their teachers and counselors. He sees a caring nature within the RHHS community.
“I think there’s a huge growth mindset here.”
“I think that just kind of drives you to greater heights, and the grades will be there at the end… and I think sometimes we lose that because we get so focused on, you know, the dollar or the prize or the reward.”
His vision includes creating a culture in the school that is consistent with this goal.
“Culture is what you allow and what you create and so, I am constantly thinking about what I allow and how I want to create it,” he said.
One of the ways to accomplish this is through everyday activities. For instance, he pointed to his open door policy.
Fote said he wants students to have a view, voice and a vote in how things are done. He encourages students to reach out and come talk to him—whether by emailing him or finding him in the hallway.
“Every student counts, every day counts, every class counts,” he said.
Overall he advises students to come in every day, ask themselves what they can learn—from a teacher and a fellow student.
In addition, he said it’s really important for students to get involved.
“Take a chance, get involved,” he said. “The risk is worth it because you always learn something.”
If there is one thing Fote would like students to know, it is that the right mindset is everything.
“How cool it is to be the decision maker and decider of your education,” he said. “The learning begins with you and ends with you.”
(Photo by: Emily Massicotte)