Scott Sterk

By Laurie Lechlitner
InkFreeNews

AKRON — “I’ve always been comfortable interacting with kids,” stated Scott Sterk, Silver Lake. “I love helping them learn and grow. I taught sixth grade students at Lincoln Elementary in Warsaw for 17 years. This is my third year as principal at Akron Elementary School. As principal, I not only get to interact with students, but lead the staff, converse with parents, and reach out to the community. A principal wears many different hats.”

Sterk describes himself as a people person. “When I was in school, I often paid more attention to the social aspect than academics. However, when I became a teacher, I tried to present each subject in an interesting way. I love seeing that lightbulb come on when a student understands a new concept for the first time, and when they’ve completed a project they’ve worked hard on, I can see the joy in their eyes.”

He earned his undergraduate degree in elementary education at Indiana University, Kokomo. Sterk went on to get his master’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois. He received his principal’s license from Ball State.

“I always enjoyed teaching students in elementary school,” Sterk remarked. “I had about 25 students in class the whole day. I not only got to understand them and what motivated them, I also got to know their families.”

When the principal got ready to retire from Lincoln Elementary, Sterk was earning his principal license. “When she retired, the timing was not right. So, I didn’t pursue the job of principal at Lincoln.”

Since he and his family live in Silver Lake, when the position of principal came open at Akron Elementary Sterk applied. “I was hired in July 2021.”

Being a principal is quite different than being an elementary school teacher. “Now I have 375 kids to get to know each year. And I miss the hands-on of teaching. To remedy that, I’ve started an after-school book club for fifth grade students. We meet once a week. This gives me a small group to connect with.”

However, being principal gives Sterk a chance to make a difference on a broader scale. “I love interacting with students, staff, parents, grandparents and the community. Being involved in all the different areas of school is enjoyable. The Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation is great. The other principals and administrators truly care about the students and strive to do what’s best for them.”

A typical day for Sterk starts at 7 a..m. “I check my emails and calendar. Then at 7:40, I have various teachers’ meetings. Then around 8:30 I do the announcements for the students. In the afternoon, I handle the day-to-day issues that come up for a principal. Some of those may be disciplinary issues. I try to visit classrooms. Sometimes I’ll meet with parents.”

Sterk believes a good principal needs to be a good listener. “I have to also learn to transition quickly. I might be visiting with one or our younger students who is talking about the tooth fairy, then have to switch gears to listen to a parent who is concerned about their child in the classroom.”

He and his wife Stephanie have five children: Eli, 17, Anna, 16, Katie, 14, Jack, 11 and Zoe, 8. “We’ve always dreamed of a big family. We’re happy to have our children in the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation.”