ToquiNotes: Lifelong City Resident and BHS Graduate Kenny Edwards "Home" as BHS Assistant Principal
By Jeff Toquinto on August 05, 2023 from ToquiNotes
It’s been a few years, almost 15 of them, since Kenny Edwards walked the halls at Bridgeport High School as a student. During his four years at the school situated on Johnson Avenue, Edwards was in every part of the building on a regular basis with the exception of one – the administrative offices.
“I wasn’t in there a whole lot. I would say my appearances there were average at best,” said Edwards, a standout student back in his pre-professional days.
His time in the administrative office part of BHS will change. Actually, the change had already begun as he will spend the majority of his time in the near future there.
The lifelong resident of Bridgeport and product of Johnson Elementary, Bridgeport Middle, and BHS is the new assistant principal at Bridgeport High School. He is filling the spot vacated by Renee Mathews who took over as principal for the now departed Matt DeMotto.
“It felt like coming home,” said Edwards of his arrival at the school last month. “I actually wanted to be here when I got into my administration courses. If you could say what my dream job was once I figured out what I wanted in my future, this was it.
“Working with the curriculum and the programs the school has to offer just makes it even better,” he continued. “I’m very much interested in the curriculum side of things and that is an added benefit to ending up where I wanted to end up.”
The funny thing is Edwards never thought he would end up being an administrator during his time in high school in the late 2000s, let alone at his alma mater.
“I never thought I’d be here in this office, not a chance,” Edwards said with a laugh.
He inherits the office held by former assistant principal and athletic director Mark Jones. While Edwards was a student, DeMotto was in the same office holding the same titles that Jones held when he was situated there.
While Edwards never thought about being a BHS principal, he credits the staff at Bridgeport for giving him a love for the education process. While he said he had an all-star lineup of educators, he pointed to two that helped get him headed down the educational career
path.
path.
“(The retired) Tom Fogg and Coach (John) Cole made classroom time interesting. They talked to you and could relate to the students. They were just all-around good teachers,” said Edwards, who along with his wife Hannah are the parents to a son, Owen. “Their classes piqued my interest and pushed me into doing something in that field.”
The process started with a four-year stint in Marion County. He earned his education degree from Fairmont State University in 2013 and his master's degree in curriculum and instruction from West Virginia University in 2015.
Prior to his work on his master’s degree, Edwards was already in the Harrison County education system working. He began in 2013 as a substitute. In 2014, he got a job at Washington Irving teaching seventh grade students world studies and geography for just one year.
After that, he was back on his “home” turf. He began teaching in 2015 at Bridgeport Middle School teaching West Virginia Studies for three and a half years. In 2019, he returned to BHS to teach social studies, mainly AP American History and other American history courses.
That would last until this past January. On the 23rd of that month, he got his first administrative principal’s position as the assistant at Washington Irving Middle School. Prior to heading to WI in Clarksburg, he did a little bit of coaching too.
Edwards served as the assistant girls’ basketball coach at BMS. After that, he was the head coach for the freshman team at Bridgeport High School.
All of that knowledge, including the short stint as an administrator, will be put to use at Bridgeport High School. And he plans to learn at the capable hands of Mathews, who is just a few doors away.
“Having her right there is an amazing benefit. She has a wealth of knowledge,” said Edwards. “If I need anything, I can turn to her. For what I’m doing now, I couldn’t ask for a better teacher, so to speak, to learn from.”
While he is already focusing on the job, ready to work with and learn from Mathews and team up with fellow new Assistant Principal Tom Sears, Edwards is most excited about one thing. And it is the one thing that is reassuring he was the right choice for the position.
“The thing I’m most excited about is working with the kids, getting them ready for their classes, and making sure they are in the best position to succeed in the classes, which I will work hard at making sure they are in the course offering they want,” he said. “The goal is to get them in the right direction to help ensure their success. I’ve been through these halls and know maintaining success with students is valued. I don’t plan to do anything to change that.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Kenny Edwards in his new office, while he's shown below with his wife Hannah and son Owen.
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