About Principal Coach Harvey

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 Meet Ronnie Wayne Harvey, Jr., also known as Principal Coach Harvey (PCH). He is a highly respected educator, author, and speaker with 18 years of experience in education and multiple leadership roles under his belt. He has achieved great success in his work with the Calcasieu Parish School Board and the field of education. Harvey is an inspiration and change agent in Lake Charles, Louisiana, dedicated to creating positive school cultures and empowering the surrounding community.

Mr. Harvey is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and holds a master's degree from Louisiana College. He is the Administrative Director of Special Services and Alternative Programs for the Calcasieu Parish School Board. Most recently, he served as the principal of Washington Marion Magnet High School, where he was committed to shifting the school climate and culture while empowering the community simultaneously.

During his tenure as the principal of Calcasieu Parish Alternative Sites, Harvey played a critical role in helping students navigate challenging situations. He recognized that each student had unique needs and reasons for alternative schooling. Therefore, he identified universal needs like a strong understanding of adolescent brain development, trauma-informed care, and skill-building to help students overcome tough times. Harvey created a focus on skill-building and identified goals for youth, families, and schools to achieve long-term behavioral change. He also worked to re-engage adolescents and offer continued support, recognizing that students who have been through alternative programs need ongoing guidance throughout their academic and social lives.

When Mr. Harvey took over as principal of Washington Marion, the school's overall performance score was 61.2. Recognizing the need for a strategic and unorthodox approach, he recruited, hired, and retained highly certified teachers and support personnel. He then created an action plan to improve school culture, understanding the importance of effective leadership practices, including data-driven decisions, in moving the school forward. In just over a year, Washington Marion's performance score grew by 14.9 points, resulting in a score of 76.1. The school has since experienced an increase in enrollment, graduation rate, and college and career readiness. Mr. Harvey aimed to continue moving his school and community forward by educating stakeholders about graduation pathways, increasing the availability of STEM and robotics programs, and remaining transparent in all aspects of the school.

He has received numerous awards for his outstanding contributions, including the 2022 Louisiana High School Principal of the Year, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) State Principal of the Year, and 2022 ASCD Emerging Leader. He has also delivered keynote presentations at national education conferences, including the Innovative School Summit, Southern Regional Education Board, and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). He is the author of the Amazon Best Seller and #1 release, "The Playbook of Principles for Principals." In addition to serving as the Administrative Director of Special Services and Alternative Programs for Calcasieu Parish School Board, Harvey is also the District A city councilman for Lake Charles, Louisiana, a true testament that he desires to move everyone forward, onward, and upward!