In the morning, Vice Principal Mr. Roman pushes open the gates of Glen Edwards Middle School with a genuine smile, ready to start the day. The halls are silent and the classrooms are dark, but Mr. Roman knows this quiet won’t last long. In just a couple of minutes, hundreds of students will enter the school—full of energy, questions, and sometimes problems that need solving. He takes a breath, prepared for whatever the day brings, and that shows what type of person he is.
Around 7:50 to 8:00 AM, he stands at the main entrance, greeting students as they hurry in. He says he enjoys greeting students in the morning because he feels it’s important to build a bond with the students here at Glen Edwards.
Once the morning bell rings, the real work begins. Mr. Roman starts by checking his computer and completing anything that needs attention. He greets everyone in the office, then begins making passes for students he needs to call to his office.
During midday activities, he’s extremely busy, answering more emails than he can count. Around 10–11 AM, he works to keep things running smoothly by calling up any students who have referrals or disciplinary issues. He guides students to follow the Panther Way, settles small disagreements over things like spilled milk or missing chairs, and answers the endless stream of questions students seem to save just for him. Even in the busiest moments, he stays patient and goofy. “I’m a goofball at heart, so it’s really easy for me to connect with students,” he says. “I don’t really know if it works, but most of the time I manage to get a laugh out of them.” Around 8th grade lunch (12:27), he has his lunch, though sometimes he doesn’t get the time and simply eats whenever he can.
Afternoons are usually filled with emails and computer work. Some messages come from teachers, while others are from students who simply email him questions. Mr. Roman walks the halls, making sure students are in class and everything is running smoothly. When he encounters students, he likes to wave and make silly jokes with them. Small interactions like these brighten his day. “Interacting with students is really my favorite part of the day. I really like talking with everyone—asking how their day is going, how school is going for them. It really is the bright spot of my day, and students don’t always know it, but that impacts me. I really do enjoy hearing about what everyone has going on in their lives.”
By the time the final bell rings, he has handled most or all of his administrative tasks. Toward the end of the day, if there are any tasks left unfinished, he writes them down on a list. He then makes sure everything is shut off and put away before heading out. Typically, he doesn’t leave until around 4 o’clock, and sometimes he stays even later if there’s something important that needs to be done right away.
As the buses pull away and the building grows quiet, Mr. Roman returns to his desk. He looks tired but satisfied. “I like building connections with students and letting them know that I’m always here to support them and that they can feel safe when talking to me.”
As he prepares to leave, he locks the door behind him and thinks to himself that tomorrow will bring new challenges, new surprises, and new chances to help his students grow.
