Hello Tomales Community,
We just completed our first week of high school! It was great to see the students back at school and getting back to learning. Over the past few weeks I have been meeting a lot of you, and everyone has been so kind and welcoming. I’d like to thank you for the warm welcome I received from everyone. For those who I haven’t had the pleasure to meet yet, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.
My name is Forrest Harper and I am the new Tomales High School principal. I started my educational career in 2007 when I started student teaching. I was a high school social studies teacher in Santa Rosa and this is my 13th year as a high school administrator. Most recently, I was the principal of Cloverdale High School.
One aspect of schools that is important to me is communication. It’s a very tricky thing to do well. The office staff started a weekly parent communication this year that will come out on Monday mornings where we will summarize what’s happening this week in one location. The goal is to not inundate you with ParentSquare notifications. Also, please review the THS website, we updated all of our forms and links. Communication will be something we will work on improving throughout the school year.
Another passion of mine is athletics and FFA. I played sports when I was in high school and I am a big supporter of athletics. I love watching our students compete, grow, and develop confidence both on and off the field. I also value the lessons that athletics and FFA teach our students, including teamwork, leadership, responsibility, perseverance, and commitment. It is rewarding to see students challenge themselves, support one another.
Personally, I have two elementary-aged daughters, and a wife who recently was a math teacher, but now works for a company that develops math curriculum. I was born and raised in Laguna Beach, so I am familiar with the sense of community that comes with a small, close-knit coastal town. I value the relationships that are built when people know and support one another, and I appreciate the pride that comes from being part of a community where relationships truly matter. That is one of the things that drew me to Tomales and makes me excited to be part of such a special community.
I’m very excited to be here and I am looking forward to working with you all. Have a wonderful weekend.
Best,
Forrest Harper
Tomales High Principal