GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) -- The path to education for Faith Fugit began with a teacher who challenged students to consider how they could make a difference in the lives of others.
“One of the things that made me want to be a teacher was my teacher,” Fugit said. “It was my high school government teacher. It was really important to him that his students think about being a teacher - not a lawyer, not an engineer, not a doctor - but think about how they could impact others by becoming a teacher.”
Today, Fugit serves as principal of Sibley Elementary, where she brings decades of educational experience.
Originally from Texas, she spent 20 years in Houston as a high school teacher, assistant principal, and principal. Her first teaching assignment left a lasting impression and helped shape the leader she would become.
“My first classroom, I was right out of college, and I was teaching 10th graders, so they were taller than me for the most part,” Fugit said. “I really learned about the importance of being prepared, of planning and considering all your different students' needs.”
That focus on meeting scholars where they are remains central to her philosophy.
“There’s really nothing like a teacher and the students in their classroom,” Fugit said.
As principal, she sees her role as supporting teachers so they can focus on helping scholars succeed.
“We have amazing teachers here at Sibley,” she said. “We have experienced teachers. We have new teachers who are already very skilled, and my job is to get everything out of the way that is preventing them from doing what they know they need to do.”
Fugit also values the opportunity to work closely with families and help solve challenges that arise during the school year.
“As a principal, I love when a parent comes with a problem,” she said. “Their child has told them something that they want to fix. I love being able to help them fix that problem, and then also bring them together with the teacher or the other adults who can support them.”
At the heart of her work is a desire to create a welcoming environment where children feel known, celebrated and excited about learning.
“I hope the kids think that I'm fun and that I make school a magical place,” Fugit said. “I think that kids should be excited to come to school. I want students to remember that we celebrated them, that we accepted them, and that someone on the campus knew their name and knew something about them.”
Fugit believes the supportive culture at Sibley is what makes the school stand out.
“Sibley is special because of the people,” she said. “It's the people in the building. It's the people outside the building. It's the parents. It is all of the amazing community partnerships that we have. It's our volunteers. But it's really our students who are just some of the kindest, most wonderful students that I've ever worked with.”