For Marietta High School’s Principal Natalie Haworth, the new is beginning to wear off the job, and
she’s hitting her stride.
Haworth came to Marietta after three years as an assistant principal in the Yukon Public School
system, a place that shares few commonalities with Marietta. Yukon is home to over 2,000 students,
while Marietta has fewer than 300. Yukon is a large city, while Marietta is a small town, yet Haworth is
fitting in fine.
“Coming from Yukon, I was accustomed to a much larger school system, with more students, staff
members, and departments,” Haworth said. “Moving to a smaller school has given me the opportunity
to know our students and staff on a much more personal level, within a much quicker timeframe.”
Haworth reports that the smaller school allows the opportunity to see the whole picture, rather than
just a part of it. In Yukon, she was an assistant principal, responsible for “taking care” of about 700
students, so she didn’t have as much to do with the other students.
“In Marietta, I really get to see the whole picture,” she explained. “I know all the students, I am starting
to get to know their families, and I have become much more connected to the community.”
Another big difference is the change in responsibility. As an assistant at Yukon, Haworth had specific
responsibilities that functioned more in a support role. At Marietta, her responsibilities are broader in
scope.
“The biggest difference is probably the variety of things that come across my desk. As the principal at
Marietta, I am ultimately responsible for all of it: academics, discipline, staff, students, parents,
facilities, communication, and all of the unexpected things that come up in a school day,” said
Haworth. “There are a lot more decisions that have to be made.”
Haworth believes that her time at Yukon prepared her well for her job at Marietta.
“I was already accustomed to handling a wide variety of responsibilities,” she said. “So while stepping
into the role of principal, rather than assistant principal is certainly a different level of responsibility, I
didn’t feel like I was starting from scratch. A lot of experiences along the way helped to prepare me to
come to Marietta.”
There’s another change that Haworth has made that has almost nothing to do with school size. It’s
actually something that every new school employee must do.
“Every school has its own procedures, traditions, personalities and way of doing things, so there has
been a lot to learn,” Haworth smiled. “Building relationships has been one of the most important parts
of the transition. I can learn policies and procedures, but I also have to take time to learn the people
and what makes our school and community unique.”
To that end, Haworth has tried to approach the transition with an open mind and a willingness to listen
and learn.
“I certainly don’t have everything figured out,” she said, “so I think it’s important to be comfortable
asking questions and learning from the people around me.”
One of the biggest adjustments has been that as a principal instead of an assistant, the buck now
stops with Haworth.
“As an assistant, I knew that someone else was ultimately making the final decisions. But as the
principal, I am that person,” Haworth contended. “When a difficult situation comes up, I can gather
input, listen to people, and seek advice, but the decision belongs to me.”
Haworth is grateful for the support of District Superintendent Brandi Naylor.
“If she can’t answer a question, she’s walked beside me to problem solve and brainstorm. I have
been really grateful for that support,” insisted Haworth.
Even though the year is young, Haworth’s faculty has good things to say about their new leader.
Longtime educator Amanda Faulkenberry appreciates the positive attitude that Haworth brings to the
building, believing it’s brought improved morale in the staff.
“I love our new principal,” said English teacher Jessica Wolfe. “She is incredibly supportive. She’s
also visible and involved with the students, very present and approachable. There’s a sense of
support and appreciation that has been refreshing.”
Naylor believes that the district has found a gem in Haworth.
“We are fortunate to have Natalie Haworth serving as our high school principal,” said Naylor. “She
cares deeply about students, values strong relationships, and is committed to creating a school
environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed.”
Haworth knows that her position brings responsibility and accountability to a lot people. She takes
both of those seriously.
“I care about our students and our school, so I want to make decisions that are in the best interest of
everyone,” she stated. “I’ve learned that being a principal isn’t about having every answer but instead
it’s about being willing to listen, make thoughtful decisions, take responsibility for those decisions, and
keep moving forward.”
Although Haworth has only been around a few months, she seems to be settling into the ebb and flow
of life in Love County and to her position. By the time Christmas rolls around, she’ll likely feel like
she’s been here forever. She’s focused on what’s best for her students, and that goes a long way with
the community.
“As often as possible this year, I have pointed back to two things. First, are we doing what’s best for
students? And next, what can we do to ensure that all students are enrolled, enlisted, or employed
when they graduate from Marietta High School? Aligning with those two core focus points has helped
make sure that all we are doing, deciding, or even changing is what’s best for our students,” she
concluded.