Mr Enis is the new principal of Tupelo High School. He graduated from this school and was a teacher for many years, also was an interim principal for one year and now his new position as our principal. 

“I love this job. I love what I do, because I get to be around people and be around you know, young people and do my best to make a difference.You know, I don’t want to put a number on it, because I may stay 10 years, or I may stay three years, you know, my son is a 10th grader and who knows when he graduates? I may leave, I may stay. I don’t know” Mr. Enis indicated.

Mr. Enis is someone who takes his students and the people surrounded by him really important and seriously, which makes him a friendly and kind but also restonsible and, when he needs to be, a strict person.

The Enis family is all over this school. He has a sister as the interior and fashion design teacher, Mrs. Enis and also his son is a sophomore at THS.

But he also has a story at this school and some others that many students don’t even know about.

“Maybe people need to know that I was a student here at the old school, the middle school. So I graduated from Tupelo in 1992. I actually went to college too, but yeah, I have been in Tupelo schools for 40 years. And then I went to William Carey and Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and I played baseball there.” Mr. Enis declared.

But since his story as a teacher/principal is already really long, he also has seen many things. How people, especially students treat each other, so he has much to say and give to the world which also again shows what a good person he is.

“I just want our students to give their very best, be respectful to each other.I want them to lift other kids up instead of beating down. You know, some kids can be mean at times, which is not nice, but we need to help people instead of tearing them down, because you never know what people are going through so anytime that you can lift someone up, it’s always a good thing.” Mr. Enis noted.

While talking with him, the people can really tell how passionate he is about those people, this school, this city, this state.

“I have been in Tupelo schools for 40 years. I love this town, and I love this community.” Mr. Enis commented.

But even with his big love for the students, he also needs to take over responsibility and raise the students to be good people. A big point here is the respect many of them need to learn. But also here he made a decision to teach the students right and wrong, especially with every school’s big problem, the cellphones. 

“You know, more states around Mississippi and throughout the United States are going away from cell phones. So that was the only thing, maybe, because some kids are still walking around with them. I don’t mind it at lunch and in between classes. It doesn’t bother me. Yeah, I just don’t want kids to have it out in the middle of the class, because sometimes they’ll record a teacher, they’ll record another student. Some people have used phones in the bathroom, and the bathroom is privacy. And there’s kids that have videoed other kids, and that’s just not good.” Mr. Enis explained.

But wherever a problem is, there is also a solution. He didn’t become a principal to let things stay how they are, especially not the bad ones. 

“I think the old saying is to leave it better than you found it. So when I come in, it’s this way, but when I leave, I hope it’s better for students, and for teachers and just pushing students, you know, more academically. And for books because what we have right now, a lot of focus is on extracurricular activities like sports, band and cheerleading and singing and dancing. But our books are important too, so I may be trying to push more students academically. That’s important.” Mr. Enis mentioned.

And not just the education of the students are important to him. The most important thing is their safety for him. Even though many students don’t understand the changes he makes and maybe don’t even like, they need to start to understand that what he does is just for the best for the students.

“No more earbuds or headphones, because it’s a safety issue. Yeah, I want kids to be able to hear if something goes wrong, if we have to go on a lockdown for any reason. You know, kids need to be able to hear that. Plus, like I said, as well it’s respectful to the teacher not to have that on inside the classroom.” Mr. Enis said.