Daniel Ford, the current principal of Vivian Field Middle School in Carrollton-Farmers Branch, will soon become the principal of Denton High, as per the School Board’s decision on Jan. 24.
More than 100 applied for the job, but the committee felt Ford rose to the top and was the best choice.
“My highest priority will be making sure students are well prepared to either enter the workforce or college,” Ford, who plans to start before March 1st, said.
Ford, who is excited to start his new job can’t wait to enter the building and get going.
“[I’m looking forward to] meeting all of the students,” Ford said. “My goal, coming in there, is just to sit back and get to know the students, get to know the staff, get to know the parents and the community.”
One thing Ford is a firm believer in is working with the community and doing service projects.
“Bringing the community together… it’s a broad statement,” Ford said. “But there are many aspects of that. We need to get the community working with the school… there are a lot of great things happening at Denton High. When you help someone, it energizes you as a person.”
That excitement is something Ford hopes people will pick up on.
“People like excitement, so we have to create that exciting atmosphere to draw people in,” Ford said. “We’ll start off small, and we’ll make it doable, and then continue to grow.”
Ford realizes that not everyone is open to change, though, and the transition may be rough at first.
“I want you to get to know who I am,” Ford said. “At first, everyone’s a little skeptical. But every decision made on that campus has to positively affect the students.”
When he says students, he means all the students, not just one group of them.
“Arts, athletics, academics… the three A’s are important. I was in dramas, musicals, choir, sports, and they’re all important to me” Ford said. “There’s not a plan to come in and cut that. The plan would be to come in and grow those as big as possible.”
As for his visibility to the students, he says he’ll be reachable.
“You’ll see me in the halls,” Ford said. “You’ll see me giving high-fives. You’ll see that a lot from me.”
