New HomeLink Assistant Principal with a Student-Centered Approach

Deer Park HomeLink has added a new face to its leadership team this school year as Sam Abrams steps into the role of assistant principal, bringing with him a philosophy centered on curiosity, collaboration, and strong partnerships with families. For Abrams, education has always been about building relationships and supporting others. "Everything I do comes back to a few simple ideas: stay curious, listen first, and remember that a school is at its best when it's a true partnership – not something done to families, but something built with them. That's the thread running through every role I've had in education, and it's what drew me to Home- Link."

As assistant principal, Abrams said his focus is supporting everyone involved in the HomeLink community. "My role is to support our principal, our teachers, our parents, and our students – that's really at the heart of it," he said. "I'm built to listen, to investigate what's needed for success, and to go find the resources to make that happen. When problems come up, my job isn't to swoop in and solve them for people. It's to be a thought partner, working alongside our teachers as we figure out solutions together." Rather than arriving with a list of changes, Abrams said his first priority is learning what already makes the HomeLink program successful.

"My first goal is to truly understand the mission and vision of HomeLink, inside and out, so I can support it well," he said. "I've learned that you can't lead a program well until you understand why it exists and who it exists for, so before I try to change or add anything, I want to earn a real understanding of what makes HomeLink work, and who it's already working for. Beyond that, I'm just excited to support people. That's what I'm built to do." Abrams said he believes Home- Link's parent-partnership model sets it apart from many traditional schools. "HomeLink is a true partnership between parents and the school. Every school is supposed to be a partnership, but too often traditional schools end up feeling more like a drop-off daycare; 'Here, educate my kid.' HomeLink is different, and honestly, I think every school should work this way."

That philosophy also shapes his approach to student success. Rather than expecting every student to follow the same path, Abrams said each child should have individualized goals supported by teachers and families. "Since this is a parent-partnership program, success starts with each student having their own goal to work toward.

I don't think success should look the same for every student, and HomeLink is built around that idea already. My job is to help make sure every kid actually has a goal that's theirs, not one handed to them, and that they have real support getting there." Building relationships begins with getting to know students personally, he said. "By being curious about their lives. I like to talk with them, take a genuine interest in who they are, and celebrate with them when they find success or discover something they're passionate about." Abrams said he also sees families as essential partners in every student's education. "Families are true partners here, not bystanders.

That's really the foundation of everything about HomeLink, from setting goals for students, to being part of the day-to-day learning itself." Supporting teachers is equally important. "I keep an open-door policy – I want to be genuinely available. When a problem lands on my desk, I don't try to solve it alone; I ask questions, and together as a team we talk through what a solution could look like, then move forward on it together. And be- yond the work itself, I just want to be friendly and fun to work with." Abrams said one of the greatest challenges facing students today is maintaining a love of learning. "I think a lot of students see learning as a chore instead of an opportunity.

That lack of curiosity is one of the biggest challenges," he said. "When a kid feels like learning is being done to them, they check out. When they feel like it connects to something they actually care about, everything changes. Part of our job at HomeLink is finding what kids are genuinely passionate about and helping align that with the standards they need to meet. That's a big part of why I think a personalized, partner ship-based model like HomeLink matters so much right now." Although he has ideas for the future, Abrams said he wants to spend time listening before proposing changes. "I'm still early in getting to know Home- Link, so I want to hold off on naming specific opportunities until I've had more time listening and learning from this community first," he said. "That's intentional on my part.

I'd rather earn the trust of this community and really listen before I start suggesting changes. Any opportunities worth pursuing should come from what parents, teachers, and students tell me they need, not from what I assume walking in the door." Outside of school, Abrams said he enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time with his family. He's also been tackling home improvement projects and shared one unexpected fact about himself. "In col- lege, I was my school's mascot.

I put on the costume and ran around at sporting events." As he begins his first year at HomeLink, Abrams said success will be measured by the people around him. "My priority is supporting (Principal) Gretchen (Hausman), our students, our parents, and our staff. I'll know I'm succeeding if the people around me feel genuinely supported." His message to the Deer Park community reflects the philosophy that has guided his career. "Life is an opportunity to be curious and to learn as much as we can, whether that's in school or out of school.

There's time for fun, time for all the things we experience along the way, but ultimately, my message is simple: let's be curious, and let's keep learning." When asked what he hopes students will remember most about him, Abrams' answer was simple. "That I truly cared about them and their success."