By Jeremy Makale ‘24 and Jahson Torres ‘24
Out of many of the major changes that occurred this school year, one of them has impacted students head on – the appointment of a new principal. He has already made quite a positive statement on what he intends to bring to the school this year. Meet Dr. Matthew Fox, Conestoga Valley High School’s new principal, who is all about unity and community.
Previously hired at CV as the assistant principal, he left that job position for a promotion at Garden Spot High School in 2020. He worked there for 3 years, and returned to CV high school when he heard that the job position for the principal was available.
“Upon leaving, I kept in contact with a lot of parents and staff. To see that eighty percent of the staff was still here – I saw the dedication in them,” said Dr. Fox on what sparked his return.
One of the biggest things that Dr. Fox has his mind set on is the education system. He believes that a lot of work can get done from outside the classroom. One of his goals is to be innovative and get more hands-on. He wants to create ways students can earn credits without having to be in classrooms.
He wishes to create more internships, mentorships, and externships while in school that give students the opportunity to earn credits. This proposal is in the works and should be rolling around sometime during the 2024-2025 school year.
Another thing he is big on is ensuring that students get to class on time; thus, the introduction of the one-minute bell. Elizabeth Peralta (11) stated that the new system “helps me become more focused and work diligently at school helping me be a more respectful student. The [re]introduction of Character Strong helped.”
Math teacher Mrs. Brittany Torres backed up the statement by stating that, “The school environment is much more positive, and student behavior, as well as the overall culture, has improved.”
Dr. Fox’s biggest point is giving back and getting involved in the community. Within the first month of school opening, the new administration created a reward system called CV Bucks. This awards students for doing the little things such as helping out a teacher or student in class. Students then turn in the slips, and when the entire school reaches a certain amount, the school has a giveaway, from gift cards to bicycles and skateboards. This is a way to assure students that what they do does not go unseen.
Dr. Fox has a lot more ideas for the future. He plans to introduce more prizes to give away as the year goes on. He hopes to create ways that parents can be more involved within the community. And he wants more links to the middle school campus.
“Given that [the middle school] is so close to us, I figured we could create a few ways in which we could get them involved. Maybe we could have a couple of students go there and mentor [middle school students], but it is something that is a work in progress,” said Dr. Fox.
Stay tuned for more news as Dr. Fox works to bring positive change to our community.