Luke Daniels and Ben Wade are both very familiar with the Petal School District – Daniels as a teacher and administrative intern, and Wade as a teacher, coach and administrator.
Now, the two educators will get the chance to take on new schools and roles in the district, as Wade moves from assistant principal at Petal Upper Elementary School to that same position at Petal High School, and Daniels takes the assistant principal spot at the upper elementary school.
“I’m excited to be joining the outstanding team at the high school, with (Principal Rob) Knight’s administrative team and the teachers there,” Wade said. “So I’m looking forward to getting in there and serving a long time.
“There’s a lot of outstanding teachers there, and I’m looking forward to working alongside of them, and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with some students that I was able to serve during my time at the middle school.”
Wade, who is entering his 10th year in education, served in the Forrest County School District prior to coming to Petal. He was assistant principal at Petal Middle School before coming to the upper elementary, where he is now in his second year.
“I’ve been very fortunate during my time at the middle school to work under (Principal Michael) Hogan, and all the things that I learned from him,” Wade said. “I’ve been able to grow as an educator working for Mr. Hogan, as well as these last two years with (Principal Emily) Branch.
“I’ve taken different things from each of them, and different perspectives, and the wisdom and knowledge that they offer has been a great experience.”
Daniels, who was named the 2017 Teacher of the Year by the Mississippi Department of Education, is finishing up his stint at the Ole Miss Principal Corps Cohort 10 program. During that 13-month internship program, Daniels has completed 36 hours of online and in-person coursework, and has interned alongside Knight at Petal High School.
Before heading to Oxford to start the program last year, Daniels taught math at Petal Upper Elementary School.
“That’s where I taught, and there’s certainly no place like home,” Daniels said. “As a teacher there, I developed a real love for PUES – the people there, I would say, are like no other group I’ve ever encountered.
“They care, and they give so much to their students and their co-workers. There’s a continual, collective pursuit of excellence throughout the school, and I’ve learned how rare that is through my time at other districts.”
Daniels will finish the Ole Miss internship at the end of June, and will officially start at the upper elementary on July 1.
“I’m looking forward to rejoining the team and continuing to build on the great work they’ve already been doing,” Daniels said. “I’m extremely grateful to have the opportunity to work under Emily Branch; she’s been my mentor for several years during my time as a teacher there.
“I have all the respect in the world for her as a teacher and a leader, and I look forward to being back under her leadership once more.”
