Bishop Luers High School Principal Jim Huth has announced the appointment of Mr. Randal Hawkins as the assistant principal.

Mr. Huth said that many candidates were interviewed, and Huth and the selection committee chose Hawkins. “We want to welcome him to Bishop Luers,” Huth said. “He’s going to do a great job.”

Hawkins, a native of Decatur, and Bellmont High School graduate, has been married 17 years to Nicci and has three children, the eldest a sophomore student at Bishop Luers. The family attends St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Fort Wayne. Hawkins joined the Catholic Church in 2002.

He received his bachelor’s degree at IPFW and then, through Adams-Wells Special Services, got a minor in special education. He continued his education with a master’s in elementary education and special education. In 2009, he became licensed as a director of exceptional needs through Ball State University.

Hawkins has spent most of his career as a special education teacher at Norwell Middle School, Norwell High School and Wayne High School. He taught math, English, composition, science, biology and environmental science.

At Norwell, he coached cross-country, basketball and track, and volunteered at Wayne High School in the basketball program. Presently, Hawkins coaches at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and is a member of the athletic board.

Last summer, “I started thinking, ‘where do I want to go in my life and how do I make myself available as much as I can?’” he said in an interview at Bishop Luers High School.

Hawkins’ teaching experience and director’s license opened the door to obtain an educational leadership license. Completing just six courses at IPFW last year, he attained his educational leadership license.

Hawkins considers the role of assistant principal to be a personal challenge. As he was finishing up the leadership licensing requirements, Hawkins spoke with Mr. Huth last spring about the assistant principalship. In April, Hawkins applied. “My daughter goes here, and so I have heard some great things about Bishop Luers and the family atmosphere.” It’s a “small school, I really like that, so I look at it as another challenge, something I really look forward to. It will be fun, and I think it is the direction I need to be.”

“I like building relationships with students,” he said, “just talking to them and seeing what things I can do for them – just being a mentor. “

He added, “I enjoy working with teachers as well. I did a lot of that at Wayne, co-teaching and working with teachers and improving special education students, meeting their needs and what we can do for them to make them better in the classroom.”

Hawkins noted that two years ago he did not envision he would be in a position of assistant principal at a Catholic high school, but he embraces the challenge. Digging into the possibility and furthering his education, he noted, “This is something I really need to do. I look forward to working with the administration team here and the rest of the team here to making this a great place and just continuing to improve the school and making it great. That’s the goal we want to do. I look forward to working with everyone here. It will be a great challenge, and I can’t wait for it.”