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STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Eau Claire Principal Ekemam Montgomery’s Relatable Experiences Help Build Relationships with Students

Man with glasses smiling and holding walkie talkie

Inside his office at Eau Claire High School, Principal Ekemam Montgomery keeps this quote by Booker T. Washington on his wall: “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” It’s a quote that Montgomery says he resonates with greatly in his journey to becoming a principal.

“It wasn’t easy. I didn’t start out wanting to be a principal. When you work hard and treat people right, I think things ultimately work and put you where you need to be,” he said.

Montgomery is originally from New Haven, Connecticut. He attended a high school similar to Eau Claire when he was a teenager, which is one of the reasons why he says he can relate to his students.

“My upbringing was similar to what the students here have experienced. When I look into my students’ eyes, I really do see myself. That empowers and motivates me to do all I can for our students,” said Montgomery.

After graduating from South Carolina State University, Montgomery started his career in Richland One in 1996 as a business education teacher at Eau Claire. He still remembers his first year at Eau Claire, from walking into the school for the first time to seeing former NBA player Jermaine O’Neal when he was a student there.

“It was a great experience and the start of something special. I knew I was in the right place,” said Montgomery.

After nine years of teaching, Montgomery decided to take a leadership route. Among his leadership and administrative roles in Richland One, Montgomery has served as a dean of students and as a teacher on special assignment at Eau Claire, as well as an assistant principal at Heyward Gibbes Middle School and W.J. Keenan High School.

When Montgomery came back to Eau Claire in 2022 as principal, he said it was a homecoming.

“It’s a dream come true to come back to the place you started,” he said.

Montgomery says one of his big focuses as principal is building relationships with students, whether it’s greeting them with a fist bump in the hallway or simply telling them he’s glad to see them in school. Even when he does his morning announcements, which Montgomery says is a highlight of his day, he lets students know he cares about them.

“I want everyone to always recognize and remember that each student we serve is someone’s child. They want you to treat their child just like you would treat your own,” said Montgomery.

A key way Montgomery builds relationships with his students is by listening to them. He says he loves opportunities to talk to one on one with students about life.

“I make students understand that I was them. I was that student who didn’t know what they wanted to do. I wasn’t the best student, but I had people who embraced me and kept me on the path. My students can do the same thing,” said Montgomery.

He also works to build relationships with parents and always makes sure to set aside time to hear from them. Montgomery stands outside the school during dismissal and engages in conversations with parents.

“I always keep an open-door policy. Parents can approach me and share their opinions about what direction the school needs to go in,” said Montgomery. “I want to make sure I address anything that they have on their minds and ensure them that their children are in the best environment that we can possibly provide.”

Montgomery says seeing a student with a smile on their face when they succeed is why he enjoys being a principal.

“Being part of their success is something that money cannot take the place of. You put plans in place, you see students excel and you see parents happy. Ultimately, that has to give you joy,” he said.

October is National Principals Month. For information about administrative opportunities in Richland One and to apply, click here.