Principal Addressed

In addition to a number of new changes around campus, a new school administrator moves amongst students and staff, offering direction and encouraging communication.

STURGIS, SD — Among the many new changes at SBHS this fall is the new administrator, Principal Pete Wilson, whose presence has been subtle as he makes himself and his educational ideas known to staff and students.

There are basic fundamentals that make people the individuals they become as adults. Background, education and goals are some of those elements. For Principal Pete Wilson, being raised by educationally minded parents may have influenced his determination to make the decision to become an educator.

“​Coming from parents who were both in education, mom a business teacher and dad a superintendent,” Wilson said, “I have always enjoyed the world of education and the possible impact you can have on kids. I’ve had many great experiences in education and I especially enjoy watching students grow up and mature through the years in high school. It is fun to watch students grow into young adults and become productive members of the society.”

A 1990 high school graduate of Canistota, SD, Wilson obtained a Bachelors of Science in Education from University of South Dakota, Vermillion in 1995. He later graduated from Southwest State University, Marshall, MN, in 2000 with a Master in Leadership and then from University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, SD, in 2009 with a Master in Administration.

Wilson’s past teaching experience includes teaching math and business classes for five years (1995-2000) at McCook Central, Salem, SD, during which time he was also an assistant football coach, an assistant basketball coach and the head boys and girls basketball coach.

He then taught math from 2000-2001 in Luverne, MN, where he was the assistant boys basketball coach.

From 2001-2007, Wilson taught math courses at Spearfish High School in Spearfish, SD. Utilizing his coaching skills, he was also the assistant boys basketball coach for three years, head girls basketball coach for three years, head boys and girls golf coach for five years and the Spearfish Legion Baseball Coach for three years.

Moving back to the eastern part of the state, Wilson taught mathematics from 2007-2010 at Sioux Falls Lincoln, Sioux Falls, SD, where he was also the assistant girls basketball coach for a year.

Making another transition in his life after obtaining his second Master in Administration, Wilson relocated to Upton, Wyoming, where he was the high school principal from 2010-2015.

Because a principal can often wear more than one hat, he was also the head boys basketball coach for four years.

When Superintendent Don Kirkegaard and the Sturgis School Board offered Wilson the job as SBHS’s principal, Wilson again relocated his family to Sturgis.

Relocating to Meade County and taking on the responsibilities of a larger school provides “an opportunity for me to grow professionally, but more importantly, it is the right size of a community/school to raise a family,” Wilson said. “I like the opportunities that are offered to students and I enjoy the people who work here as well. We have a great staff here and they work hard to make it a better place.”

“I believe relationships are one key component to getting the most out of students. If you have a good relationship with your students, it makes everything else easier,” Wilson said.

Students appear to agree. “He is fun and understands the students,” Taya Crowser (12) said. “He does not talk down to us.”

“Communication is also a key to having a successful school,” Wilson said. “In education, whether you are a teacher or principal, you must communicate with both students and parents so that we are all on the same page. I always have an open door for students, parents or teachers to come talk about issues. I also believe that every student can learn and we as students, parents and school staff must work together, so we can help students improve.”

“Principal Wilson is great,” Destiny Wesner (12) said. “He is just what this school needs.”

Although it is early in the year, students are getting to know their new principal.

After selling Wilson a Scooper Card for SBHSs annual fundraiser, Kassidy Kitzmiller (12) said, “He is chill but still enforces rules.”

One of the not-so-new rules is reminding students to remain in the Commons Area and lunchroom during their lunches instead of loitering in halls outside of classes in session.

“While not all of the students are happy with the situation,” Assistant Principal Chad Hedderman said, “it has made the halls quieter, allowing teachers the flexibility of leaving the classroom doors open and air moving, which creates a better teaching environment.”

Education goes beyond the halls and classrooms of SBHS, and as students graduate the memories made go with them.“​I want the students to remember Sturgis Brown High School as a safe place where they felt welcome and teachers and administration treated them as individuals,” Wilson said. “I want the students to learn 21st century skills to be successful after school.”