Basharus Simmons is the Principal of Wogaman Middle School. He has been in this role for four years but has been with the district for a total of ten years. Simmons is originally from Pontiac, Michigan and holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Antioch University.

What is the best part about being the principal of Wogaman Middle School? 

The best part of being principal is getting to build relationships through my daily interactions with students and parents. As principal, each day I work toward ensuring students are receiving the best education possible in a safe and orderly environment.

In your opinion, what skills does one need to be a successful principal?

A successful principal must be a strategic thinker, a good listener, and they must know when to delegate tasks and allow others to lead. A successful principal must also remain positive and truly believe in the students they serve.

What have your biggest achievements been as a Dayton Public Schools principal? 

I have been recognized as a member of Dayton’s Top Ten Males in Leadership. I have also received a State Momentum Award for academic progress while I was principal at Edison Elementary, prior to coming to Wogaman.

While at Wogaman, students have had incremental growth in their test scores, which is promising. However, there is still more work to do. I believe that with continued support and high-quality education, our students will continue to grow and achieve.

What initiatives have you implemented in your building to boost overall student achievement? 

At Wogaman we have our Positive School Climate (PSC) initiative. We use this program to teach our students important values and to help them build character, while incentivizing them for demonstrating positive behavior. This has resulted in both improved academic performance and improved daily attendance.

Have there been any notable accomplishments this year from Wogaman students and staff? 

Students and teachers alike have worked hard to reconnect with the concept of school after dealing with the pandemic. For most of the last school year, students and teachers were remote. They have done a phenomenal job with transitioning back to in-person learning in a traditional school setting.