On July 1, 2015, Mr. Tim Harris returned as Principal of Benton Harbor Charter School Academy. In 2013, after eight years at the Academy, Harris stepped down from the students and staff he’d been leading to explore a new future in new cities.
After two years, Mr. Harris is ready to come HOME and join hands with families and the Benton Harbor Charter School team who want children to be able to come to school with the assurance that they are safe, secure and served by a faculty and support team who deeply care about and love the children of Benton Harbor.
“It is good to be back home. My home has always been a place of healing for me,” Harris states. Born and raised in Benton Harbor Tim left after graduating high school to serve his country for eight years. Honorably dischared as a combat veteran and with a degree in Behavioral Science, Tim earned a Master’s Degree and an Administrative Certification from Western Michigan University.
“I have learned the importance of love and support in the face of trouble by watching my grandmother, mother, and aunts – the backbone of many families in this community. I have seen more aspects of the personal side of illiteracy, and I understand first hand the importance of a great education. My family history is what sparked my interest in education, but my own experiences has held my attention.”
Mrs. Jean Nesbitt, Benton Harbor Charter School Academy Board President, states, “Tim Harris has played an instrumental role in making Benton Harbor Charter School Academy into the premiere educational institution for children in Southwest Michigan. He understands that the Benton Harbor Charter School Academy’s educational community embraces each child as an individual — evaluating, teaching and working one-on-one towards academic greatness. Under Tim’s previous leadership, he was able to balance high academic standards and strict discipline in providing a safe and fun learning environment, as well as providing a family-learning environment for parents/guardians of our students where computer and GED training was provided.”
More than 200 people came to welcome him back to the community on June 27 at a spaghetti and fish fry dinner. The response leaves Harris feeling more determined than ever to take the school to a higher level.
“I’m excited – everyone that I’ve run into is excited. I’m just really focused on setting the standards of this community when it comes to education.”