Picture this: it’s the summer of 1980. You are driving down the highway and BAM! You are involved in a bone-crushing, whip-lashing car wreck. Your vehicle is so badly mangled that you become trapped inside. There you lie slightly unconscious, bleeding from your noggin. Then all of a sudden you hear the heavenly sounds of sirens in the distance. Help is on the way. The firemen finally arrive and gently pry you out of your car. As you emerge, you are greeted by a lofty young man with a looming presence. His hard work with the Jaws of Life free you from what could have been your metal coffin. Who might this man be you ask -- none other than our new principal, Mr. James Eberts?

In the business of education for well over 16 years, Mr. Eberts started out as a bus driver in 1992. While in college, he worked for a year as a teacher’s aid for a special education class before transferring to SOSU.  After graduation, he taught math.  Prior to college, though, school was by no means Mr. Eberts’ passion.

“I was more of the athletic type,” said Mr. Eberts.

Math being his worst subject in high school, Mr. Eberts actually dreamed about becoming a fire fighter. When volunteering as a fireman sophomore through senior years of high school, he learned to use the Jaws of Life, work a car wreck, and fight grass fires. Ironically, Mr. Eberts failed his fireman certification exam by one point, with math being his lowest score. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, he decided to do something about it and went back to school.

Mr. Eberts’ greatest achievement is his family.  Married in 1986, Mr. Eberts has five daughters ranging in age from 21 to 5-years-old and is very proud to have been able to raise a family in times like these.  With what little free time he does come across, he spends with his family, mostly coloring pictures or reading books with his daughters.

Newkirk High School lucked out and scored itself a pretty awesome, down-to-earth principal. Mr. Eberts is kind, patient, and reasonable. So before you go getting all hot-headed about a rule you think is unfair, just take a second to talk to him about it.  He will listen and really does care about the students and their success.

Yeah, I know that sounds uber cheesy, but it’s true.

Fun Facts

• likes new age music for relaxation and pretends to know how to play the drums
• does not and never has liked to dance
• grew his facial hair out because his wife likes it
• Prison warden?  “Absolutely not.” [But he did teach math at a women’s prison for three years and helped them get their GEDs.]