Familiar face at Belfast - Wayne-Wilson News Leader, Fremont, NC

16 August 2007 — Working with students who haven’t responded well to a traditional classroom setting might seem overwhelming to many educators. But that’s definitely not the case for the newest principal at Belfast Academy.

As John Twitty prepares to begin the school year as principal of Belfast Academy, he’s not intimidated by the idea of leading an alternative school. Instead, the Air Force retiree is excited at the chance to redirect the students at his school who may not have responded to traditional approaches.

John said he knows Belfast can tend to have a reputation as a school where bad kids go. He taught there in his first few years as a teacher, and knows both the reputation and the realities that occur within the halls.

“I don’t see it as being a school of bad kids,” he said. “It’s just that the kids need a little redirection.”

Part of that redirection, he said, definitely involves enforcing discipline on campus. But more importantly, he said, it is his goal to motivate his students by giving them hope.

“One of my goals is to help each child feel successful every day,” John said. “That’s something I want to instill in my staff as well.”

John feels that, by helping each child feel successful, he can help to motivate the students to do better. He wants to redirect their attention away from the negative associations they might have within themselves, and help them focus on the positive.

“I just want to give them some hope, let them know that they can be successful people,” he said.

John began his educational career as a teacher at Belfast, teaching English for three years before moving on to Brogden Middle School. However, his newest tenure at Belfast does offer a new experience for John. His appointment at the alternative school is his first as a principal. John has held two assistant principal positions since receiving his master's in education from the University of Phoenix. He most recently served as the assistant principal at Eastern Wayne High School for two years. Before working at Eastern Wayne, John began his career as an administrator by serving as the assistant principal at Mount Olive Middle.

One of the biggest differences in serving as the principal, he said, is the added responsibility of the job.

“You’re responsible for the students, the staff, the faculty,” he said. “When you’re the assistant, you get to share that responsibility, but as the principal, you’re responsible for everything.”

John says that, instead of being overwhelmed by the new task, he chooses to see the position as a new challenge that he is faced with. And like his approach to the students at the school, he’s greeting this new challenge head-on.

His previous experience at Belfast gives him a bit of an edge in taking on the new job. While he will have to adjust to the new responsibilities of his job, his task is lightened because he doesn’t have to learn as much about the school itself.

“It definitely helps a lot, to have worked here before,” he said. “I’m familiar with the clientele we have here, so I know what needs to be done.”

Working in education is a second career for John. Before becoming an English teacher, he spent 26 years in the United States Air Force. He began his coursework for his teaching degree while he was still in the military. Upon retiring in 1998, he began working as a teacher at Belfast.

John has two children. His daughter is a student at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, and his son is a lieutenant in United States Army. He is stationed in Fayetteville.

His daughter has a four-year-old daughter, whom John is proud of. The little girl is a model, and just signed a contract. She lives in Greensboro with her mother.

John said he spends a lot of his free time with his daughter and granddaughter.

“I spend every weekend up there,” he said. “My granddaughter knows when Friday comes around, it’s time for granddaddy to come.”

Another hobby John has recently picked up in his spare time is playing golf.

“I just now got into golf, and I kinda like it,” he said. “Every spare moment I have I’m at the driving range.”

John lives in Goldsboro, where he has resided since 1991.

As activity at the school picks up over the next few weeks, John is looking forward to working with all of the teachers at Belfast. And as the students arrive in a few short weeks, he said he is excited about the challenges and opportunities that will be presented to him throughout the school year. John sees every challenge as an opportunity for further improvement.

Back to this week's News Leader