With a warm smile and friendly fist bumps, Dr. Seth Harrell greets the students of Jackson High School (JHS) as they enter the halls and begin their day. He pops into classrooms, taking in his surroundings as he does. Students collaborate on projects and chat with each other, teachers lead with interactive lesson plans and Harrell strikes up conversations whenever he can. Now, Harrell wants to continue that same approach at KHS.
Harrell was the principal of JHS for seven years and has more than 15 years of experience in teaching and administration. This year, he is bringing his knowledge to KHS, hoping to expand on the school’s success and his position as a principal.
“I’ve really enjoyed hearing all the great stories about Kirkwood,” Harrell said. “The Kirkwood community, [its] rich traditions and the history of Kirkwood and [the high school] are really special. The Friendship Dance and decorating the halls [are some examples]. It’s being a part of that tradition that brings the community together. Learning about [them] has only made me more excited about serving as principal.”
Before becoming an administrator, Harrell was a social studies teacher in the Sikeston R-6 School District. He said history was always his favorite subject in school, but when he started teaching, he became drawn to world history in particular.
“[I’m] fascinated with the [Egyptian pyramids] and the architectural designs of the buildings in Rome and Greece,” Harrell said. “I loved teaching about [those civilizations], learning about the different cultures around the world and how different areas have evolved over time.”
His passion for teaching didn’t completely originate from his love of social studies. Harrell said when he was a student, he noticed how much of a positive influence his teachers had on himself and others.
“[Educating] became something that I wanted to be a part of,” Harrell said. “I wanted to get into the profession of teaching because I wanted to make an impact on others just like [my teachers] have made an impact on me.”
Additionally, Harrell’s former coworkers credit him with enriching their lives. Andlle Naeter, former assistant principal of JHS, had previously applied for administrative positions before becoming assistant principal. It was Harrell who gave her a window of opportunity by hiring her.
“That was huge for me and [for] my belief that I could be a leader,” Naeter said. “He has encouraged me ever since [I was hired] and so I continue to improve. That [confidence] started with him.”
Harrell said he participated in many extracurriculars as a high school student,
including wrestling and football according to the Cash Book Journal. Now, he continues to stay active through running.
“[Exercising] is something that I try to do every day,” Harrell said. “For me, that’s just an important part of my daily life.”
Harrell said he loves hanging out with his family and kids, and his many other hobbies reflect that. He loves putting together puzzles with them, dabling in woodworking with his kids and barbecuing.
“Typically on the weekends [I’ll] grill and cook,” Harrell said. “Ribs would be my absolute favorite. I love chicken wings [too].”
Harrell said he has always believed in being well-rounded when it comes to sports, academics and work. As principal of JHS, he strived to give his students the opportunities to participate in as much as high school could offer, and he said he hopes to continue that at KHS.
“To me, one of the biggest aspects of extracurricular activities [are] the people you’re around and the people you get to meet,” Harrell said. “That’s when [you] start making connections with other students.”
For Harrell, bonding with others is essential to being a leader. He said getting to know the students and staff has helped him immensely in being successful.
“Everyone involved in the school has such unique backgrounds, experiences, interests and passions,” Harrell said. “You have to know who you’re working with in order to help them reach their goals.”
Another former co-worker of his, Andrea Talley, noticed his interpersonal skills at JHS as well. Before Harrell came to the school, she said the teachers kept to their own departments. It was due to his leadership, she said, that they became unified. He brought teachers, Talley included, into administrative practices and therefore made them feel more welcome.
“If [he] was designing a master schedule or anything school-wide, he would go and ask teachers for their input,” Talley said. “[He trusted] their expertise and experience.”
Harrell said he is eager to experience all that Kirkwood has to offer. Whether that is building relationships, tackling new challenges or finding new opportunities, Harrell said he knows he can always rely on others to improve.
“I pride myself on being one that’s always willing to learn from others [because] it’s only going to help me in my position,” Harrell said. “My past experiences and the knowledge I have gained from working with some great educators is only going to help me be a better leader and be able to serve the students and staff better at [KHS].”
