Storm Team 4 meteorologist Bryan Still becomes principal for a day

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH) — Opened in 2007, Waggoner Road Junior High School in Reynoldsburg is where meteorologist Bryan Still started the seventh grade the same year. Little did he know that many years later he would return back to that very building not as a student, but as a principal.

Reynoldsburg city schools held their “principal for a day” event where members all over the community were invited to join various school administrators and help carry out the day to day tasks that any normal principal would do. This is the second school year that the district organized this event.

After a busy morning of greeting kids at the door, classes were monitored as teachers demonstrated the different lessons that were on the day's schedule. 

Education has changed drastically over the last 18 years. Gone are the whiteboards and textbooks. Those tools have been replaced with touchscreen monitors and laptops. Some traditional tools like pencil and paper are timeless and still present.

Over the last few years, Waggoner Road has made strides in listening to the community and how its members wanted to see the school grow. School principal Jason Phillips says part of this feedback involved seeing an increase in classes involving the arts. The school responded. dropping in on choir class, there are many kids learning music theory and choreography. With music so catchy it was easy to join in on the learning.

With hard work and dedication, in no time, the kids felt more confident in their skills and seemed eager to showcase them when the time comes.

Once lunch time came, a group of hungry sixth graders made their way to grab food, catch up on some work, and meet up with their friends. Joining them at their tables shed light on another big change. Children moved from cliques to clicks.

Keyboards and laptop screens sat next to the food as they shared notes and discussed lessons. Even then they were still eager to share in conversation with their guest principal about what their favorite subjects were and what they were learning about.

There was one task that ended up being more daunting than anticipated. Getting the attention of a rambunctious cafeteria of sixth graders required a great big breath and a strong set of vocal cords. 

Ready to learn again, the kids made their way to the next class to finish another day of learning