At Marist High School almost everyone knows the infamous Mr.Higgins. From his strong school spirit, to riding golf carts around during pep rallies, to announcing football games, but this year he has taken on a new leadership role this fall as the Dean of Upperclassmen.
For Higgins, the shift from classroom to dean’s office has been a huge change.
“It’s very different from what I’ve been used to my entire life. My whole life I’ve always been on a school schedule—periods one through whatever—and now I just kind of go with the flow of the day. So, it’s different,” said Higgins. “I like it so far. It’s been a pretty good experience.”
Though his job has changed, his focus remains the same: guiding students. The new responsibilities he holds come with a broader scope.
“First and foremost, it’s the safety and security of the people who go here, I go around and make sure doors are locked and closed, things like that,” said Higgins.
Many students are wondering why the change and if he misses teaching.
“I’m not going to lie, it was a very hard decision. I love teaching,” he said. “I don’t miss grading papers, but I saw my students every day for almost 170 days. We built relationships, and we had a lot of fun. It’s just a different style of relationship-building here.”
Ultimately, it was the opportunity to take on a leadership role, and a chance to make a bigger impact that influenced him to change roles.
“I wanted to have a chance to make a big difference in the high school that I went to,” Higgins said. “That was my major thought process—trying to make a difference on a school-wide scale instead of just a classroom-wide scale.”
Students are already noticing his presence in the halls.
“He’s still the same Mr. Higgins we knew in history class. he is funny and approachable, but still serious when it matters. He’s always cared about his students so he will make a great dean in the years to come,” said senior Samantha Fontaine.
Higgins’ vision is not about rewriting the rule book for Marist, but ultimately reinforcing the rules already in place. He is not all about punishment as many may think.
“People hear discipline and think punishment, punishment, punishment. But discipline also creates successful habits to build for successful outcomes later in life,” said Higgins.
Even though the new “off and away” phone rule has not been very appreciated by students, there is a reason behind it.
“I think it’s an unbelievable idea. The less social media, the better. The more kids are talking to each other, the better,” said Higgins.
As Higgins settles into this new role, he will stay focused on the long-term impact he could have on students at Marist.
“One thing I talk about a lot is the ingredients of success: mindset, skill set, and habits. Changing nothing really, just emphasizing building those habits through discipline, through hard work. That’s what I want to focus on,” said Higgins.
With his history in the classroom, Higgins hopes to guide students for years to come.
