Meet Hamilton's New Associate Principal: Mr. Laurishke
Photo by Cora Kuhlenbeck
Meet the new associate principal in town! You may have missed this during the ensuing chaos that was 2020, but Hamilton High School got a new associate principal, Mr. Chris Laurishke. Charger Press was able to get a one-on-one sit down with him.
How did you get into teaching?
I got into teaching in the 2013-2014 school year when I started teaching at Homestead High School in Mequon. I was a social studies teacher, and I started teaching AP Economics and Contemporary Issues. I think the thing that really got me into teaching was that I really wanted to help people [by] finding ways to teach people new ideas and new content, and try[ing] to find things that people are passionate about. That has always been the thing that has driven me as a teacher.
Do you think Hamilton is different or similar to other schools?
It depends how you look at it; each school has its own things to be proud of, [and] each school has its own personality. Each student body has their own personality, each school has its own challenges. From the outside they might look the same, or they might have similar test scores, [but] each school is different. I think Hamilton has its own unique character traits.
Can you explain the duties of an associate principal?
It depends on the day; that’s been the interesting thing [in switching] from teaching to administration: teaching comes with its own challenges and its own opportunities. Administration is a little less predictable. When I was a teacher I knew everyday that 1st block was US History or Economics. Being an associate principal it changes everyday. Sometimes I am in meetings or addressing students’ behaviors, [or I’m] long term planning with curriculum. Generally speaking, we as associate principals, me and Mr. Otto, are often the first ones to address behavior challenges and give feedback to teachers. It changes every day, but there are ones that we can predict everyday, and there are some that come up as the need arises.
Obviously you came at a very strange time. What do you think this experience has taught you?
I think it's taught me a lot of things. It is certainly a strange time to be jumping from teaching to administration which is difficult during normal times as well. I think it's taught me and anyone working around me the ideas of understanding and patience. I had a conversation with another principal about the idea of grace and understanding, that this is new for everybody. Sometimes our first decision is the best one because we are just getting the information faster than we can make the decision.
Since you are new, what was your first impression of the staff?
I think everybody has been super helpful from the get-go. I started working in the middle of July which gave me a lot of time to know the staff. Everybody has been very helpful, especially those early days when I was just figuring out my login or how to access my email.
Since this is more of a leadership role, what leadership skills have you learned from this job?
I think leadership is interesting because there are a couple different approaches. A part of leadership is building relationships. As you get into a job and know people and they start to [get to] know you, there is that build of trust. What are their motivations? What are the challenges? Then it’s asking, “What can I do to help?” Another part of leadership is being transparent and open with everything, so that everyone knows the “why.” In leadership you're not going to get everyone to agree on everything, but being open and transparent with people helps.
What is something you would like to improve in the school?
One of the things that I am really focusing on is building more student voices into advisement lessons. A lot of times the lessons are built by myself, Mr. Otto, or some of the guidance counselors. The teachers do a really good job of delivering them, but we really want to focus on how to get more students into the lessons. Ultimately the lessons are for you guys (students), and you guys are the ones feeding us ideas that you guys are seeing that are concerning, since you guys see things that we don’t.
Are you excited to work here?
Yeah! Absolutely, one of the things I enjoyed about being a teacher is that I felt like I knew everybody and everybody knew me. I knew taking this job I would be starting from scratch, but I was super excited to take the job. Once the students got here, that’s the fun part and we get to have conversations like this.
What is your favorite thing about Hamilton so far?
My favorite thing about Hamilton so far is working with the staff and working with my colleagues. The amount of concern that people have for the students here, and the amount of passion and effort they put into that is inspiring. There are people that always put students first, and that’s been the fun thing to be around. When a lot of people share that same desire and share that same sense of what matters, it makes it really easy to come to work every day.
Do you have any advice for students for the rest of the year?
Be patient. Give people some understanding, particularly with everything surrounding COVID. It’s added a particular layer of stress and challenges that everyone is dealing with to some degree. I think Covid has exasperated those challenges, and you never really know what someone is going through. The idea of grace and patience and understanding.
Hopefully this interview helps us get to know the assistant principal more. Since COVID-19, it might have been harder to see him, but he is there making sure that the school is running smoothly!
