Baker Proud Spring 2017 - 12

BAKER PROUD | Spring 2017

A Hart of Gold
School of Ed grad named Principal of the Year
Dr. Britton Hart, MASL '00, EdD '13

r. Britton Hart has served as the principal at
Emporia (Kansas) High School since 2014.
In that time, he's seen hundreds of students
walk the halls. But this year is special for him.
Although he has looked forward to working with many
students over the years, one in particular makes going to
work each day a little more special. That student is his
daughter, a freshman at Emporia High School.
"I've sacrificed a lot with my family over the years,
and now I finally get to be around for her schooling," Hart
said. "I kept my distance those first few weeks, but now
she'll come up to me and say hi."
Hart hadn't always wanted to be in the education field.
In fact, he started college in the mid-1990s as an engineering student, but he quickly learned it wasn't a good fit.
"I just knew it wasn't for me," he said. "I was good at
the math and science, but I just hated it."
After reflecting and shadowing teachers, he decided to
pursue secondary education and landed his first job teaching industrial arts and coaching track and field. After a few
years he pursued a Master of Arts in School Leadership
from Baker University. After earning his master's in 2000,
Hart served in his first administrative position for a few

years before beginning his tenure at Emporia High School
in 2007, where he spent seven years as assistant principal
and athletic director.
It was during his time in that role that he decided to
enroll in the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program at Baker. Once a week, Hart made the hourand-a-half drive from Emporia to Overland Park, Kansas,
for class.
"My wife, Lisa, wasn't super thrilled about that drive,"
he said. "But the schedule worked for us. It was a one-time
commitment each week, and we could make that work."
Since graduating, Dr. Hart has stayed close to others
in his cohort and stays in touch with his advisor, Dr. Verneda Edwards.
"I would say to anybody who wants to dedicate themselves to something, you cannot go wrong with furthering
your education," he said. "Programs like the ones Baker
offers [give you] more than an education. It's that network and the opportunity to meet new people so that you
as a leader can build that group of people who will serve
you well."
The long drives and hard work have certainly paid off
since Hart graduated in December 2013. Last July, he was

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Baker Proud Spring 2017