After three years of impactful leadership at OHS, assistant principal Lucas Ferguson will be stepping away from his role to take on a new position in another Mississippi district. While Ferguson has spent the last few years with OHS, he began as a teacher at OIS and worked as an assistant principal at OMS. This move demonstrates his devotion towards serving local school districts.
“I am not necessarily chasing a job, title or paycheck,” Ferguson said. “You never want to be scared of growth or to be afraid to take on a new challenge. My goal is to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of kids and teachers. Being able to be a part of students’ lives in multiple aspects and trying to help prepare them for what comes next in life is the most rewarding thing about this job.”
Ferguson will be stepping into the role of head principal in his hometown district Vardaman Attendance Center – a K-12 school that is smaller than what he is used to. The move has both personal and professional weight, bringing him back to a place of significance from his early years.
“It is where I graduated from as a student,” Ferguson said. “It is an opportunity for me to go back home and get back to a smaller district that was so influential in my life. It is a unique opportunity where I get to see kids from their earliest days through the trajectory of their education.”
OHS Principal Dr. Dana Bullard has seen many benefits from Ferguson’s time with the leadership team at OHS. With his previous experience in the district, he was able to help her transition when she first arrived in Oxford. Together, they are a part of a five-member leadership team at the high school, where collaboration is the core of their work.
“His knowledge of the students really helped me out at the beginning,” Bullard said. “I came from out of town and did not know anyone, so having that cultural knowledge of the students and families was very helpful. He brings a knowledge of technology and a connection to a new way of thinking, so it is nice having that young voice in our group.”
Bullard has had the opportunity to watch Ferguson grow into a strong leader, mentoring him through his role in school administration. She believes his genuine concern for the students will serve him well in the next chapter of his career.
“His closeness and relationship with the students and their parents is something very special,” Bullard said. “He is going to take that with him and develop it wherever he is. It is something that I have relied on for three years. I do not have to wish him well because I know he is well prepared to do it. None of us want to see him leave at all, but I am so proud that he is going to be the principal of his own school.”
Ferguson’s impact has reached not only the students, but the teachers as well. Jordan Caviezel, teacher in the fine arts building, has worked alongside Ferguson since their time together at the middle school.
“Mr. Ferguson has always been extremely supportive and kind,” Caviezel said. “I worked with him for two years at OMS and then three years here. He is extremely fair. He will tell you like it is, and he has a great sense of humor. He and Dr. Bullard would come to all of the fine arts events. I am going to miss that.”
Ferguson will leave a lasting impression on the high school. His care for the Oxford community is evident in all that he has done, and he will carry this onto his next chapter.
“It is a lot different than Oxford,” Ferguson said. “I think it is going to be a different kind of challenge, and, ultimately, it is going to be an opportunity for me to grow in different areas as a professional. Saying goodbye to this job is probably one of the hardest things I have had to do. It has been an amazing, amazing journey.”
