Gallery: CHS Principal Hobin Named RI High School Principal of the Year

On Friday morning, Coventry High School Principal Michael Hobin rushed to the school gymnasium after being told there was an urgent situation there and he was needed. This was completely true, but not at all what he expected.

The entire student body and faculty, school district officials, and members of the Coventry Police Department, along with Hobin's wife, Susan, and several family members welcomed him with thunderous applause. The reception was well-deserved as Executive Director Patricia A. Hines and her colleagues at the Rhode Island Association of School Principals (RIASP), recently selected Hobin to be named 2013 RI High School Principal of the Year.  The decision followed a March 14 visit to CHS from a RIASP selection committee who interviewed parents, teachers, administrators and students about their experiences with Principal Hobin, and to learn why they felt he deserved to be recognized as Rhode Island's High School Teacher of the Year.

During the spirited ceremony, Hobin was lauded by Hines, who shared the attributes that made him the most deserving candidate for the distinction, which included his encouragement for staff professional development, personalization of his school community, support for both students and faculty, as well as his distinction by colleagues, parents and students for being a "fully digital principal".

"Not only does he communicate regularly via listserv and individual emails, but he also “tweets” daily about the full spectrum of learning experiences at Coventry High School, keeping the school community completely up-to-date on school news," said Hines, as Mr. Hobin proceeded to snap a photo of the crowd with his cell phone and tweet it from the high school's @CoventryOakers Twitter account.

She explained that both the selection committee, as well as the RIASP Executive Board, unanimously recommended Hobin for the honor due to his excellence in leadership, teaching and learning.

"Mr. Hobin works consistently to provide opportunities for faculty and staff to become leaders within the school," Hines continued. "By encouraging everyone to gain as much professional development training as possible and by permitting risk-taking, Mr. Hobin has promoted an environment of collegiality, professional networking, innovation, and collaboration."

Hobin was recognized by several colleagues, including Superintendent Dr. Michael Almeida, Asst. Principal Joe Lucian; Lonnie Morris, former CHS Asst. Principal who now holds the title at Tolman High School, and Career & Tech Center Director Lori Ferguson.

On behalf of the student body, Senior Class President  Alaa’ Eid and Vice President Scott Francis congratulated Principal Hobin for the achievement.

"Mr. Hobin clearly exemplifies the aspects of being an Oaker by being open-minded, accepting, kind, encouraging and respectful," said Alaa'. "He makes himself available to his students and shows them genuine care and support."

"Mr. Hobin is truly dedicated to ensuring the success of each one of his students, and goes out of his way to do anything to try and help them," said Scott. "Failure has never been a word in Mr. Hobin's vocabulary."

Senior Derek Huffman shared an emotional commendation as he referenced the compassion Mr. Hobin showed his older brother Matt after he suffered a traumatic brain injury during his junior year at CHS. Years later, after his recovery, Matt came back to the school to finish his Capstone Project.

"With the help of Mr. Hobin, he graduated," said Derek. "His graduation was held in Warwick and guess who was in the audience -- Mr. Hobin. He spoke a few words of my brother's success and actually got emotional, he began crying tears of joy for his success. That moment right there showed me that Mr. Hobin truly cares about our education, our graduation and our success here at Coventry High School and for that I thank him."

Junior Dominic Bettez shared those sentiments, saying "Mr. Hobin says I'm special and he wants me to graduate," he said. "Mr. Hobin, we are proud."

"I'm truly humbled and honored," said Hobin as his eyes welled up with tears. "You will never know how much I appreciate the support that I get here, it is truly a blessing to work in the greatest school in America. Thank you so much."

In addition to Friday's surprise celebration, Hobin, who was also selected by RIASP as Outstanding First Year Principal of the Year in 2006, will be recognized by the Association at an award ceremony on May 29. He will also be honored at the MetLife and NASSP State Principals of the Year Principal’s Institute and Awards Banquet in the fall in Washington, DC.

Click here for a release from RIASP detailing Mr. Hobin's career as an educator and further illustrating the Association's reasoning for selecting him as 2013 RI High School Principal of the Year.