When Lise Fayson was named interim principal of Charles Henderson High School on Aug. 5, she had less than a week to prepare for students’ return to class.

“The kids came back Aug. 8, so we had a lot of work to do in a little amount of time,” Fayson said. “But everything was already in place because Dr. (Brock) Kelley and the two assistants were here all summer.”

Kelley, former principal, accepted a position with the State Department of Education and will oversee the workforce development programs statewide.

Fayson, who had served as assistant principal for five years at Charles Henderson Middle School and a teacher for six years at Troy Elementary, brings 25 years of education experience, including teaching in Canada, Georgia and Alabama to the interim position.

“I love Charles Henderson High School,” she said. “My children graduated from here, my stepdaughter is a senior this year, and I know most of the students in the school that I have either taught or been their vice principal.”

A native of Canada,  she went to college in Canada and played basketball there. She went on to earn her Master in Sports Management from Georgia Southern University and has an Educational Specialist Degree in Leadership and Administration.

“I’ve coached for 20 years and have taught and coached at the college level, so I feel like adding my academic side to my coaching side will help me in this position,” Fayson said.

Fayson said she is excited and grateful to Superintendent Dr. Lee Hicks and the Troy City Board of Education for entrusting her with the opportunity.

“The last few weeks have been a whirl wind, but to see the kids I’ve had since elementary school graduate, to get to see them be successful, and be able to be a part of their lives all the way through fifth grade to now is special, she said. “I get to finish it with them.”

Despite a short window, Fayson said the beginning of the school year has been smooth, thanks in large part to the efforts of the two assistant principals, Kristina Anderson and Shelby Tuck.

“They have made it so easy to just step in and keep the school moving,” she said.

“My strength is personal relationships with kids and helping them move to the next level,” she said.

Using this strength, her focus this year is to meet with every senior in the school. “I want every senior to graduate with a plan, whether that be the workforce, junior college, trade school, or whatever it is that the student wants.”

After she and her administrative team meet with all the seniors, they will meet with the juniors as well.

“Our first plan is that by the end of the year we will have individually met with each student on campus,” she said. “Every child is going to be reached this year by an administrator and have a one-on-one meeting.”

She also plans to continue her trademark efforts, which include checking grades and walking in classrooms.

“I want every child to be successful and that means academically at school and in the community,” she said. “I want every student at this school to have an advocate or person who is crazy about them and will help them be successful. We want to make sure to give every student the tools they need.”