Joshua Delich and family

Lake Highlands High School principal Dr. Joshua Delich has been named assistant superintendent of St. Paul Public Schools in Minnesota. He will move back to his hometown of Andover with his wife and two daughters and be nearer to their extended families. Delich announced his decision in an email to LHHS parents Wednesday afternoon.

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Richardson ISD will assemble a reflector committee to discuss traits of an ideal candidate to replace Dr. Delich, and parents, teachers and community members interested in serving should contact Darwin Spiller, executive director of the LH Learning Community, at Darwin.Spiller@risd.org.

When a new principal takes the helm, he or she will become the 6th administrator to lead the campus in 12 years. It was one of many things I discussed with Delich when I sat down with him Wednesday.

Tell me about Saint Paul Public Schools.

It’s the second largest district in the state, and they’re doing wonderful things. It’s a very diverse district, which I love, and it’s about the same size as RISD. Leaving Lake Highlands, though, will be tough. This community is so special. People don’t realize that until they leave. The community is involved – whether they’re helping someone during a power outage or seeing what kids and teacher and administrators need in schools. That opportunity to have people come in and support me when I first arrived was really different.

When you first arrived at LHHS, you said you liked the diversity and had ideas about what you wanted to accomplish.

Yes. I expected the diversity, but you don’t know how beautiful it is until you get here. I saw a lot of different people wanting to make this community stronger in the schools. At that time, there was unintentional fragmentation due to having two separate buildings, and we worked together to make it feel more connected. I didn’t expect for that to be done so quickly. Little changes here and there made it feel like one school.

Which of your accomplishments at LHHS are you proudest of?

When we did the Wildcat Nation Block Party, we tried to capitalize on getting people from all walks of life under two roofs as one school. It was exciting to see the kids’ smiling faces. The Wildcat Den was special for a community that wants to do so much good for kids coming in needing things. We had the resources to provide things like Fresh Fruit Fridays. Then, when I saw that big pile of dirt when they started construction (of the connector wing), that was really exciting. I talked about One Wildcat Nation for All Students when I first got here, and it looked like it was really going to happen. I’m also proud of new programming like P-Tech (Pathways in Technology Early College High School), improved AP (Advanced Placement) scores, intervention and acceleration in classrooms – it’s been memorable.

You’ve been an active member of Exchange Club, and you seemed to fit in very quickly. Why?

I was all in. I don’t have family here, and (the LHHS community) was our family. I can’t say it was hard fitting into the LH community – this is such an embracing community and so kind and sincere and welcoming. It’s tough because I’m going to miss those Exchange Club guys. Those Friday mornings, that camaraderie – it’s going to be tough.

What did you learn while you were at LHHS?

I learned you can connect with people if you take the time. I learned that the world is a good place, and sometimes we don’t see that. This community is a good place. The big thing I learned is that if you have a vision for something, it’s important to share that vision – like with bringing the two schools together – and you want to build long-lasting partnerships to make it happen.

Did anything surprise you?

News travels fast in this community (laughing). The deep-rooted pride in this community was a surprise. People can tell you that, but when you see it, live it, hear it, it’s a surprise, especially in this “me, me, me” age. This community is about “us, us, us.”

Do you have a message for LHHS parents about how to welcome the new principal and help him or her succeed?

Do what you did when I came. I felt so welcome, and so did my wife and girls, with generosity and sincerity. And be candid in sharing – here’s what we do well and here’s what we need.

We’ve had a lot of turnover in LHHS principals in recent years. What’s the reason for that?

Being principal at LHHS is a really hard job. I don’t know all the previous principals, but some I think have left for career opportunities, and some departures, like mine, have been unexpected. It’s an amazing job to lead LHHS, though, and whoever RISD finds to fill my chair will do a better job than I’ve ever done, I’m sure.

Do you have a message for the kids?

This job will take me away from the campus level, but I will treasure the laughs and grey hairs they gave me. I always tell them: find that purpose that gives you that drive in life and stay the course with that, even during ups and downs. If you find that purpose, you’ll never work a day in your life and you’ll be able to change the lives of others around you. I’ll miss their “attire audits” and their support and the tears they’ve shed in my office and them coming in to say hello.

Do you have a message for the next principal?

Wake up every morning ready to go, and realize how blessed you are to lead such an amazing high school in such a remarkable community. Never lose sight of how many you can impact on a daily basis, despite the many challenges or distractions you encounter.

Final thoughts?

This is emotional for me, despite the fact that we are headed home. That says a lot about this community. This community is special and this school is special, and all I can do is say thank you for all you have done.

Dr. Delich’s answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.