The 2025 school year is off to a start, and Chelsea High School has many new staff members. Among the staff, CHS welcomes new High School assistant principal Samantha McKee. Though she was not always an assistant principal, McKee looks forward to a change in community within the school and the town.
“I have never wanted another school not to offer me an interview, a second round interview, because I would love to work with the Chelsea staff,” McKee said.
After moving from North Carolina to Michigan, McKee had many interviews, but CHS really stood out as an amazing possibility. She was excited to show her unique skills in her interview.
“I think being an art teacher has given me a unique focus on how I look at issues and situations, because I like to think of things outside of the box and find creative solutions to things,” McKee said.
Many people don’t have a creative side to them. For some, like McKee, teaching art helped her look at many things differently. She discusses how art has shaped her way of teaching, as well as staying open-minded in many situations.
“I think it’s really helped to have that big picture mind thinking towards the future. How can we do what’s best for everybody, yet still make it an enjoyable experience? I think that that’s kind of how the art has lent itself to me,” McKee said.
Many people always talk about having all sorts of different mindsets, whether it’s in the weight room or at work. She’s learned that being a teacher means having a mindset of ‘what’s best for everyone?’
“So the reason I went into it [teaching] is because somebody saw something in me that they thought would benefit people, and it was a positive thing. So I went about taking the courses,” McKee said.
McKee shows us that having someone who believes in you can help you be even more successful than you ever imagined. She shows us how important it is to her that her personality shines through, no matter the audience.
“I hope that my personality showed through when I had the interviews. There were three rounds of interviews that we did, and some were with staff, some were with students, some were with parents and community members. and that the perspective that I brought and just who I am overall is what I hope helped,” McKee said.
McKee shows how important it is to her that people understand her as a person. Many people are used to the small town of Chelsea, but for the new staff and students, it’s a big and exciting change.
“I love what I’ve seen about Chelsea so far,” McKee said.
