As Kristin Ferderber walks down the halls of Arcata High School, she’s not just the new principal, she’s the first face many students and teachers see in the morning, greeting everyone with a warm smile.
Long ago, she was a student herself, navigating high school at Ridge High in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. She is now determined to bring a sense of support and help everyone in the AHS community blossom.
“All my leadership roles, from when I was a child up until now, have taught me that relationships are a priority,” Ferderber said. “How I lead has to take the needs of the community into consideration, so I need to meet people where they are and be flexible.”
This isn’t her first time being a principal, nor is it her first time leading an organization. Last school year, she served as a middle school principal in Salinas, California, according to superintendent Roger Macdonald’s Northern Humboldt Union High School District’s welcome letter to Ferderber. Before that, she served as a high school Dean of Students, taught high school English, ELD, Journalism, and Leadership, and took on various leadership roles, including Department Chair and WASC Coordinator.
“Ms. Ferderber stood out with her confidence, personality, and experience,” Macdonald said in the welcome letter.
Ferderber’s natural inclination to observe her surroundings and address the needs of others has shaped her leadership style. “To be a good principal you do what’s asked of you… but I think educators go way beyond that, especially if they love education and believe in it. I really believe in education and its power to positively change people individually as well as to change society in general,” Ferderber said.
As a child, that belief had already begun to take shape. She and her brother would organize performances in their garage, bringing the neighborhood kids together. By charging 50 cents per kid, they saved enough to host a neighborhood carnival, reinvesting the earnings into additional art supplies.
“It’s fun to think back on it, and I can see how my love for education and supporting others in their growth is something I’ve always been passionate about,” she said.
Reflecting on her past experiences, she places great importance on community values in her approach to leadership.
“It’s really important you align your principles with the community you serve, so I take our RISE norms seriously. So I guess a succinct way of explaining my principles is… it’s not about me. My work is about everyone else. I want our students, staff, and families to thrive,” Ferderber said.
Ferderber actively works to overcome her shyness as an introvert and is committed to leading the school by building relationships with everyone at AHS and ensuring her leadership meets everyone’s needs.
“I feel like we should build the ship together, and it’s my job to keep us going where we want to go together. There are a lot of great people here in Arcata, and we want to keep providing great things for our young people here. This is a community that wants to help with that effort, and that’s VERY exciting for a principal,” Ferderber said.
This commitment to teamwork resonates strongly with her overarching goal of fostering a supportive environment for all. This year she plans to fully implement the attendance, discipline, and cell phone policies, hoping that this intentional and consistent support will aid in every student’s success.
“What I hope to achieve isn’t always immediately obvious. For me to be happy, I like to see other people happy. For me to thrive, I like to see other people thrive. Because of this, my radar is up for how to improve what I see around me. If I see/hear something that we should and can address, I take steps to address it,” Ferderber said.
Her philosophy centers on the idea that individual happiness and growth are crucial to the success of an entire community. With that goal in mind, she thinks it is vital for her to keep on voicing and addressing the needs of students and staff at AHS as they implement new policies and integrate changes.
“People are meant to thrive and want to grow,” Ferderber said. “If they aren’t thriving, we should do what we can to improve that.”
