Hasty looks to make positive impact as Assistant Principal

“Take time to get to know your kids. They matter and should know that they matter to you,¨ said new WF Assistant Principal Lauren Hasty about advice to first year teachers.

Hasty said that she wanted to make a big and different impact in education, and this is what motivated her to go into administration. She said that many people at WF have been very accommodating and helpful to her as a new AP. Hasty said that during the pandemic she learned that teachers are resilient and, of course, being new to school, she has had to make adjustments and learn a lot.

Hasty was a teacher for seven years (English teacher) in Dillon and then served as a Curriculum/Instructional Coach helping some students and teachers. She said she is a firm believer of leading by example and by building relationships.

“It may sound cliché, but I really just want to make a change. Growing up I didn’t have a lot of support in school by my teachers, but I used that to motivate me. I want to be that encouragement in school that I didn’t have, “ Hasty said.

Hasty describes herself as an assistant principal who is focused on helping teachers in the classroom learn new strategies and technologies through modeling.

“It’s easy to tell a teacher or student a strategy to use, but until you show them how to use it effectively it won’t be beneficial,” she said.

One challenging part of being an assistant principal is dealing with student discipline.

“I follow the policies put in place, but also take time to listen to the students' side of things. There is always an underlying issue causing the discipline,” Hasty said.

Challenging situations with parents are always a possibility too.

“I am a parent myself so I try to see their perspective and be understanding while logical,” she said.

In her time outside of school, Hasty enjoys spending time with family and shopping.