Strongsville High School will soon see a major leadership change as our principal, Mr. Bill Wingler, prepares to leave and take on a new role as a superintendent for Columbia Local Schools in Columbia Station. The transition marks both a significant moment for the school community and a new step forward in his career.
Reflecting on his time at Strongsville, Wingler shared that one of his most memorable moments came during an event involving his daughter.
“Wow, there are so many great memories. My favorite memory probably would be in 2024 when my daughter, Olivia, was in the top five percent, and she did a speech about me. It was personally very touching and a night I’ll never forget,” Wingler said.
When asked what he will miss most, he emphasized the people.
“I will miss the students, the staff, I mean everybody, honestly. The people here are amazing. I will miss walking around in the hallways and just talking to the kids,” he said.
Although Wingler is excited for the future, and his new role, he admitted the decision to leave was not easy to make.
“I’m not leaving because I’m unhappy. I’m leaving here for an opportunity. I have always wanted to be a superintendent. I feel like it’s kind of a now or never thing, so I just want to take advantage of this opportunity,” Wingler said.
In his new position, he expects a major shift in his daily responsibilities, especially with fewer direct student interactions.
“I think the hardest part for me is there will be less student contact which is going to be tough because that’s my favorite part of this job,” Wingler said.
Wingler is still looking forward to leading on a larger scale.
“I’m excited to imprint my vision on a whole district instead of just a whole school and seeing if my style works really well there,” he said.
At the same time, he acknowledged the increased responsibility.
“ I’m nervous for the responsibility, it all falls on me,” Wingler said.
During his time at Strongsville, he believes one of the most important lessons he learned was the importance of school culture.
“You have to have a good culture before you can change anything. The teachers have to know that you’ve got their back. I think the teachers here know that I have their back,” he said.
As he prepares to leave, he plans to make the most of his remaining time.
“My final goals are to enjoy the heck out of senior prom and all the fun that goes with graduation and to just try to soak in the student experience because I am going to miss it alot,” Wingler said.
He also left students and the community with a final message.
“Embrace the excellence that we have here. What we have here is wonderful. This place is pretty darn good, and I’ve felt blessed every day of the last six years that I’ve come here,” he said.
His leadership and presence will be missed, but Mr. Wingler’s impact on Strongsville High School will continue long after his departure.
