Coming to us from Enterprise High School, Mr. Ian Fredlund! He is our new Assistant Principal here at Warren Woods Tower. As it was confirmed on Mr. Mackenzie’s twitter page on August 17th, Mr. Ohrt made the difficult decision to get back to his educational roots and take up a job as part of the administration for Fraser. It was a tough event to find someone who would not only fill his shoes, but someone who would connect well with staff and students alike. In a sea of over 130 applicants for the position of WWT Assistant Principal, there was one in particular that stood out to Mr. Mackenzie.
Previous to returning to the Warren Woods district, Mr. Fredlund taught at New Boston Huron High School. There he expanded his teaching skills and coached wrestling. After leaving New Boston Huron he returned to the Warren Woods district and began teaching Social Studies at Enterprise High School and remained there for four years. Mr. Fredlund was happy to teach at EHS as he said, “I was able to expand my pedagogical skills, classroom instruction, classroom management, and intervention/support techniques.” He also enjoyed his time aiding other new teachers improve upon their instruction, curriculum, and management as well as coach Varsity Wrestling at WWT, chair the school-improvement team, and participate in F.A.M.E, or Formative Assessment Michigan Educators. Mr. Fredlund also shared that one of his personal ambitions was to work within school-level administration as his grandfather and father worked as principals. “So, it would be fair to say that school-administration is a family tradition.” he commented,
Mr. Fredlund is considered a Warren Woods “lifer” as he has attended school in the district since elementary school. As a student, he attended Briarwood Elementary, Warren Woods Middle School, and Warren Woods Tower. He says that Warren Woods provided him structure and experience to become the educator he is today. Having explained his wonderful and memorable experience participating in many school activities through his time in Warren Woods, Mr. Fredlund says specifically about his time in high school, “I look back on my high school years as a positive experience that helped me develop an inclusive and empathetic disposition towards others.” Mr. Fredlund attributes the actions of teachers who made the effort to reach out to him and make a connection to the person he is today as he says they made him a better person.
When asked how he feels being back in the same school he graduated from not so long ago as the Assistant Principal, Mr. Fredlund said that some days Tower feels like a whole experience while other days he feels like he never left. “To be honest, the school is a completely different place that still feels exactly the same.” He also commented on how people who used to be his teachers are now his peers and the hallways he used to hang out in are now full of young, new people.
When asked what he hopes to accomplish as the Assistant Principal, Mr. Fredlund said he hopes to keep Tower a safe and welcoming environment for young people. “I am also excited to make new connections, help young people, and maybe even win a MHSSA state wrestling title along the way.”
Though students may feel upset at the sudden departure of Mr.Ohrt, Mr. Fredlund is motivated and hardworking. Mr. Fredlund hopes to make the 2016/2017 school our best yet and I am sure we can help welcome him back to WWT!
No responses yet