“We’re a championship school!” Houston High principal marks first week back to school with optimism

The rumble of school buses, the groaning and moaning of the students, the mad dash of parents to get kids off on time, and the smell of new books and school supplies can only mean one thing-it’s back to school time in the Mat Su Borough.

And while students and teachers tackle frenzied schedules, new faces (and familiar ones, too) and the general chaos that marks the start of the school year throughout the district, the new school year brings an extra buzz at Houston High School with a new building and new principal.

“I am just so excited about this school, the students, and the school year,” says an excited Chad Martin, the new principal at Houston High School.

“My personal vision for this school is for Houston High School to become a school of choice in the Mat-Su School District. We’re set up for it. We have an awesome CTE program, AP courses, a lot of offerings. There’s a lot of energy behind us.”

Indeed, with some of the new is also a return of the familiar. School Resource Officer from the Wasilla Police Department Michael Clausen is back at the new building, and is proud to be part of the home of the Hawks. Last year, staffing shortfalls within the WPD meant some SROs, including Clausen, were reassigned. Recently, the Mat Su school board and the WPD were able to reach an agreement that allowed for SROs to return to schools outside the Wasilla city limits.

“This is a safe, incredible building, and I’m excited for this year.”

The new school building opened near the end of the 2023 school year, a welcomed site to students, faculty and staff after the middle and high schools were forced to combine following the 2017 earthquake. And though not everything was completed at the time, transitioning to the new facility was just an additional mark of the remarkable resiliency of the staff, students and families. So far, students are happy to have the new school building.

“This is really a lot better. It was really packed over there,” said one sophomore.

Students also seem relieved to have the first week under their belt, noting that the first week is marked with a lot of orientations, going to the wrong classrooms, and generally not feeling ready to say goodbye to summer. But Principal Martin and staff stand ready.

“We are a championship school, top to bottom, sports and athletics!”