Patricia Fleming says that after 15 years of calling herself a "Reggie" at Greater Lawrence Technical School, she looks forward to becoming a "Hillie."
Fleming, Haverhill High School's new assistant principal, has started her attempt to integrate into the Haverhill High community by attending basketball games and beginning her training for her position's new responsibilities.
She'll supervise the freshman class of Haverhill High when she starts her new job on Monday, Feb. 28.
"I'm really excited to go to a new spot," she said. "I'm going to go in there and work hard, off and running."
Fleming leaves behind a 15-year legacy at GLTS, starting as a teen pregnancy counselor in 1996 and working her way up to the school's dean of discipline. Experienced with working among a variety of students from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds and all grade levels, Fleming said she looks forward to the challenge of shepherding the freshman class through the high school experience.
"By their senior year, it's nice to see how they've grown," she said.
Besides her experience in the disciplinarian's office, Fleming could also bring 12 years of coaching experience. The majority of her coaching expertise lies in girls basketball with brief stints in girls softball and cross country as well.
Fleming noted that she recently attended a Haverhill High boys basketball game to help psych herself up.
Outside the classroom or stadium, Fleming helped run GLTS's violence prevention programs and a peer mentoring program.
She said that one aspect of her new job she's looking forward to the most is meeting up with Haverhill High's teachers and administrators.
"I hear nothing but great things," she said.
