The 2017-2018 school year welcomed a new principal to Guilford High School, Mr. Ronald Carter. Mr. Carter spent seven years at Auburn High School, four, in which he taught AP Government and AP Comparative Politics. He then became an assistant principal to curriculum and instruction, overseeing the CAPA and Renaissance Academies as well.

Mr. Carter was born in Utah, but moved to Rockford with his parents at a very young age. He attended and graduated from Rockford Christian School, where both of his parents worked as administrators.

“I never really enjoyed high school. I had a fun time in high school, but being a student was not fun for me,” said Mr. Carter. “It honestly wasn’t bad going to school and having my parents working there as well. They always knew what was going on in my life, and they were always super supportive of me. I was never the academic brainy kid in school, but my parents were okay with that as long as I got decent grades.”

Mr. Carter moved to Indiana and went to Anderson University on a partial running scholarship. After college, Mr. Carter and his wife moved to Chicago where he initially planned to go to law school, but realized it was not for him after interning with a lawyer.

“I hated every minute of that internship, it was miserable,” said Mr. Carter. “That’s kind of the cool thing with academies; I wish I found out in high school that this was something I wouldn’t enjoy. But I really decided to become an administrator because I kind of saw what my parents got to do, and I thought this would give me the best opportunity to impact the greatest amount of students.”

Mr. Carter has spent the majority of his teaching career at Auburn High School. Coming to Guilford as the new head principal was quite a transition for him.

“This transition has definitely been different for me. It’s been 50/50 of what I expected and the unknown,” said Mr. Carter. “I was definitely very hesitant and nervous about the transition, but all of the concerns I had did not outweigh all of the positives and potentials. I just mesh real well with the team here. Professionally speaking, taking this job was the best decision I ever made.”

Mr. Carter has been working very closely with Guilford’s staff to continue the “good work” already taking place. Adding to that, Mr. Carter is searching for new ways to improve Guilford.

“I’m really looking for more opportunities to allow Guilford to grow as a building and set us apart from the rest of the district as truly one of the greatest high schools,” said Mr. Carter. “Every high school in the country, I don’t care how high test scores are, has something they can work on.”

One of these opportunities includes re-opening campus lunch for Guilford’s upperclassmen, which is set to begin in the near future.

“I really want to be able to allow more freedom for students to prove that they’re trustworthy,” said Mr. Carter. “When students leave, you guys are a representation of Guilford, and how you all act when you leave campus can really build Guilford’s community.”

Four weeks into the school year, Mr. Carter has acclimated and is committed to continue Guilford’s growth and improvements.

“Guilford is a great environment, the building’s culture just fits with how I view education and how I think we can do better,” said Mr. Carter. “For me, personality wise, the team, the staff, and the kids are just great. I absolutely love Guilford. It truly feels special here.”