Q&A: Havre de Grace High School Principal Jim Reynolds (Part I)

Jim Reynolds is home.

The Grace Harbor resident learned in May that at .

Reynolds returns to Havre de Grace—where he was assistant principal from 2001-2006—after serving as assistant principal in . He also served 12 years as an educator and coach in Cecil County.

At the beginning of the third day of the 2012-2013 school year, Reynolds sat down with for an introductory Q&A.

Here's Part I:
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PATCH: You’ve spent a lot of your career coaching, right?
Reynolds: Still do. I coached all three sports. I taught at Elkton for six-and-a-half years. I coached football, basketball and baseball there. Then I was the head [football] coach at for six years. Then I came over here as an [assistant principal]. And right about that time, Bob Cameron, Dwayne Coakley, Brian Eberhardt and myself started the rec football program. I’m still doing that. I’m coaching my oldest son, I’m coaching my younger son in 12U. It’s pretty busy. But that’s the neat thing. I’ve been living in this town for 20 years, 21 years. I’ve probably coached about 75 of the boys in this building, so I know many of the families.

PATCH: So this isn’t exactly the traditional “new principal learning a new community” type of situation, then?
Reynolds: That’s correct. It’s really exciting. You have a real, personal vested interest in the school. I’ve known a lot of these boys and girls since they were 6 years old. You want to see the school be successful because you live here. You know the families. 

PATCH: Where do you live?
Reynolds: I live in Grace Harbor. My wife, of course, grew up here. Heck, is named after her dad, for crying out loud. So, I know a lot of the older crowd—, , Ron Petrey, Bill Rogers. I have a junior and an eighth grader. My eighth grader is going to . Both are football, basketball, lacrosse kids. We spend our summers running around. 

PATCH: How do you fit it all in?
Reynolds: Oh, two planners. A planner for here and a planner for home. I pretty much coach the teams as well. You just make it a priority. No matter how busy you are in work, you’ve got to get involved. No matter how busy you are, you’ve got to find time. It makes a world of difference. We’re a small community and we lean on those people to fill in.

PATCH: How’d you learn that you would be the principal at Havre de Grace High School and what was your initial reaction?
Reynolds: I found out in May. Typically, you interview, you’re put in the pool. You could go anywhere in the county. I was notified in early May. I was just really excited, looking forward to this ever since that occurred. I spent five years here as an AP. I know the community and just right away, I was very excited for it. Getting back, working with the teachers in this building, working with the community. This really is a community school. There are so many people who care about what happens here. That is just great. There’s a lot of pride in the school. I was really excited, and we’ll just try to build on all the good things that are happening here. 

PATCH: What’s on your iPod, or if you don’t have one, what music do you listen to?
Reynolds: I do not have an iPod. My wife does. I like a little bit of everything. I like the 80s music, the old alternative music. Of course, U2 is probably one of my favorite bands. I really wanted to go to the last [concert] at M&T Bank [Stadium]. I missed out on those tickets. I saw them in Philadelphia, one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. I’m upset we didn’t go see them [in Baltimore]. We’ll watch Palladia every once in a while—I love that channel.

PATCH: What are some of your favorite restaurants?
Reynolds: , and in Canton, there’s a crab house right on the water, and we enjoy . I enjoy all the local restaurants. Laurrapin, , I like wings as well. I like to hit all of those. 

PATCH: What are you usually watching on TV?
Reynolds: I usually watch ESPN. ESPN, CNN—those are the go-tos.

PATCH: What are your favorite movies?
Reynolds: I like a lot of different genres. I like some comedy, drama. Seven Pounds—a Will Smith movie. I really liked that movie.

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Check back Thursday afternoon for the rest of the Q&A with Jim Reynolds, in which he'll discuss a new program for Havre de Grace High School students.

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