Dr. Kevin Hunt did not set out to be an educator; in fact, Hunt had moved to Texas to gain state residency to apply to Texas medical schools. Then, while waiting to get into medical school, Hunt began substitute teaching, a decision that changed his life forever.
“I was actually planning to go to medical school, ” Hunt said. “But I started substitute teaching and just loved it. That’s when I knew education was my calling.”
Hunt’s principal career had taken him many places before he landed at the high school. First, he was the principal at a middle school in Crowley ISD, a small district in Southwest Fort Worth, before he became the principal at Highland Park Middle School. Hunt said the phone call he received to become principal of the high school the following year was unexpected, but very exciting at the same time.
“I got a call one day. Sometimes when school districts do principal searches, the district lead team calls the people they know through networking, and somehow my name came up. It was really unexpected, but they offered me the job,” Hunt said.
Now, as the head of the High School, Hunt brings a passion for education and a new leadership style to the high school.
“There’s been a big push from the administration to be in classrooms more often, and I think Dr. Hunt is spearheading that,” Intervention Specialist and English as a Second Language Coordinator Mr. Trahan said “He’s big on accountability, transparency, and making sure no students fall through the cracks.”
Though landing at Highland Park High School was very unexpected, Hunt said he is very committed to making HP a better place. Hunt has made it a priority to get to know students and staff on a personal level, as he’s frequently spotted walking the hallways, popping into classrooms unexpectedly, and checking in with teachers and students.
“When administrators are in the classroom regularly, it takes out all the guesswork,” Trahan said. “Dr. Hunt’s approach helps them understand exactly what’s going on, which makes conversations with teachers, parents, and students more meaningful.”
Trahan has worked closely with Dr. Hunt on the High School’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), a framework that helps administrators see students who need extra help and targeted support.
“It’s super important to know that he’s invested not only in the students but also in the curriculum and the growth of the teachers as well,” Trahan said.
Hunt’s commitment to holding students to high standards is something senior Anna Qian noticed years ago. Qian interacted with Dr. Hunt while setting up her ESL club, and was happy to hear he was transitioning to the high school.
“He founded the ESL club and helped me with that a couple of years ago. It’s been a great resource for students. He’s really supportive of both clubs and academics, which is really good, ” Qian added.
Furthermore, Hunt himself has noted that one of goals is ensuring the best possible outcomes for students and teachers through giving them the best opportunities to get there.
“I want to remove every barrier and provide every amount of support so that our teachers can be the best they can be for our students,” Hunt said. “That’s really something that I’m passionate about.”
Even though Hunt is still getting used to his new role at the high school, he is already setting goals for the first year on the job.
“I have high expectations for academic excellence,” Hunt said. “We wanna make sure that no matter what class you’re in, what grade you’re in, what department every student is experiencing high levels of academic excellence.”
Overall, with any new principal comes new changes, and Hunt himself says that he hopes to continue and foster the current environment of student excellence in all fields.
“I’m excited to be here and to work with the students, staff, and parents at Highland Park High School,” Hunt said “This is a community that values education, and I’m ready to help take it to the next level.”
