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Popular principal honoured

Porter Creek Secondary principal Kerry Huff has been named one of Canada’s 32 most outstanding principals.

Porter Creek Secondary principal Kerry Huff has been named one of Canada’s 32 most outstanding principals.

The Association of School Administrators in the Yukon nominated him, with recommendations from teachers and parents at his school.

“Well, it feels very good and a little humbling to tell you the truth,” said Huff.

“It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing to be nominated by the people you work with and the people you work for, there’s no question about that.”

You have to make learning as enjoyable and fun as possible, said Huff, 54.

And educators should work closely with individual students to make sure they reach their potential.

“But you can’t do it without staff,” said Huff.

“As far as my staff philosophy is concerned, I believe you hire the best you can and allow them to work with their strengths and allow them as much creativity in the classroom as possible to make sure that they’re as happy as they can be and that they’re delivering quality education.”

Huff works in a school with many innovative programs — some he has initiated.

Huff’s school has a carpentry pre-apprenticeship program underway and is trying to launch a culinary arts program for students who work in the cafeteria.

The school also recently started guitar classes and bolstered its drama program by building a theatre.

Another of the strengths of the school is its open line of communication with parents.

“We know our kids extremely well,” said Huff.

 “We reach out to our parents quite a bit and we spend a lot of time working with them to get their kids through school.

“This is an award the whole school has every right to.

“I mean, a principal is only as good as the staff he has around him and, to be quite honest, the parents that make this job much easier to do.”

Huff will be flown to Toronto for a gala dinner, February 25.

While there, he will participate in leadership courses and exchange ideas with the 31 other principals from across the country.