Newly appointed Wes-Del Middle/High School Principal Kyle Mealy poses for a picture at the school.
GASTON – Kyle Mealy’s job involves a bit of variety. Mealy was recently appointed the principal at Wes-Del Middle/High School, a job that means he will be in charge of students as young as sixth grade and as old as high school seniors.
Mealy is stepping into the role after previously serving as the assistant principal at Wes-Del, so he’s familiar with the school and its structure.
He describes working with students of such varied ages as both a challenge and a joy. When supervising lunch, the room quickly shifts from 12- and 13-year-olds to 17- and 18-year-olds, the culture shifting with the age change. But it also means Mealy and other administrators can form lasting bonds with the students.
“The attachment that you make with those kids that when you see them walk across the stage after they’ve been there for seven years, it’s a unique attachment,” Mealy said. “You really see these people grow and you see what they’ve become. And it really brings a lot of pride to you and definitely to their families.”
Mealy replaces Derick Bright, who resigned to pursue other career opportunities after a seven-year tenure. Mealy will be just the fourth principal in the history of the school, and he said he hopes to maintain the stability of the position. A Blackford graduate, Mealy has worked at Wes-Del since 2010, beginning his tenure as athletic director before being promoted to assistant principal and now principal.
“He did an outstanding job in both situations,” Wes-Del Community School Superintendent Michael Bush said. “So when you have somebody who is familiar already with the students and the staff and the community, I think it makes that transition a lot easier for everyone involved.”
The new principal described his immediate goals as simply getting adjusted to his new role, especially taking over during an active school year. He said the school has had strong academic accomplishments in recent years, something he hopes to maintain. He also he associates a certain “tradition and class” with the school, and he hopes to continue that reputation.
One thing that will be changing, though, is the Warriors’ high school girls basketball coach. Mealy held that position while he was assistant principal, but has submitted his letter of resignation from his coaching position as part of his acceptance of the principal role. He noted Sunday his coaching resignation has not yet been officially approved by the school board.
Mealy coached the team for two seasons and went 4-36. His first season was winless, then the Warriors broke a 76-game losing streak with a victory against Anderson Prep last December. Wes-Del then went on to win three more games in the 2014-15 season.
Mealy said it wasn’t particularly difficult to give up the girls basketball coaching role, but only because he would still be able to impact the lives of those athletes while serving as principal at the school.
“It was easier to walk away because I wasn’t leaving the girls, because I’m still there,” Mealy said. “I didn’t go take another coaching position; it was just a change of role for me. And because I get to still watch and even from a distance be a part, and associated with that program, it really was easier than I thought it would be.”
Contact prep sports reporter Sam Wilson at (765) 213-5807. Follow him on Twitter @SamWilsonTSP.