Destination High School has become a common phrase around the halls of Timber Creek, but not many students know what that entails and why Principal Donald Bartlett shows so much passion towards the phrase.
Bartlett is recognized among the students as their leader and motivator. On his Twitter, he consistently refers to Timber Creek as the Destination High School.
“It’s because I had an opportunity to evaluate this school and all the many great things we have to offer and the many great people that are leading that,” said Bartlett.
The students are the main people that impacted him. He looked for the best in the students that walked the halls and saw the potential in each one of them. The students and teachers contribute to the environment that makes Timber Creek a destination for others.
“You be the best at whatever it is that you’re doing here and the destination piece is going to take care of itself,” Bartlett said. “I think that’s about as lofty as you can get.”
He believes in making Timber Creek a place that parents want to send their students to, where they can succeed in in all aspects of their lives.
“I want people to seek us out and I just think we have an obligation to help others,” said Bartlett. “If we’re doing something good I think we should share.”
Bartlett said that the teachers have grabbed a hold of this concept. He motivates the teachers every chance that he gets and he believes that naming Timber Creek the Destination High School is one of the greatest ways to do so.
“We want our kids to be a success. [A kid’s] success is a teacher’s success, and a teacher and kid’s success is a principal’s success,” said Bartlett.
The Destination High School concept was a vision to Bartlett for the entire school. He thinks about it as soon as he walks in the school and it’s in his thoughts throughout the day. He believes that it also contributes to his legacy.
Bartlett said, “The legacy that I leave behind is just the touching of people’s lives so that they can be better.”