New Principal Greets Students at Manassas Park High

Quick Facts About Manassas Park’s New Principal

Name: Eric Doyle

Age: 60

Lives in:Culpepper, Va.

Hails from: The Midwestern U.S. He was born in Illinois

Marital Status: Married to wife, Marilyn, for 39 years.

Education: Undergraduate degree in education from Eastern Illinois University. Masters of Business Administration from Avery University.

Currently pursuing doctorate at George Mason University.

Experience:

1. Served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 21 years.
2. Former Plant Manager in Culpepper
3. Taught at Southeastern Alternative school in Fauquier County
4. Former Assistant Principal at Kettle Run High School in Nokesville.

A new face greeted Manassas Park High School students on this first day of the 2011-2012 school year.

 Eric Doyle, the new principal of the high school, took the position this summer after the June departure of former principal Tracy Shaver, who held the position for eight years.

 Doyle, a marine veteran and the former assistant principal of Kettle Run High School in Nokesville, said he is excited about being an educator in Manassas Park.

“I’m not going to be shackled to that desk,” Doyle said. “ I’m going to be in the classrooms. I’m going to be in the halls and I’m going to be with the kids. Every time they turn around, they are going to see Mr. Doyle. It’s that important. They need to know we care.”

 He fully intends to know all children’s names and even the names of their siblings and their parents, Doyle said.

 He wants children to feel free to dream; it’s the educators’ job to help them follow those dreams, he said.

“Dreams are what makes us great,” Doyle said.

 Doyle said he has had some memorable experiences as an educator.

A former student of his from Southeastern Alternativeve School in Fauquier County told him what a difference he and the staff made in her life.

It was first time in her life she felt cared about, Doyle said the student told him. She later had, ‘Southeastern Alternative’ inscribed on her high school ring instead of the name of her base school, he said.

 “When I have experiences like that, I go home and look at my wife and say, ‘I made a difference today,’” he said. “It’s a feeling that’s emotional. It bubbles out of you and you can’t control it. Kids energize me. I love being with kids.”

 It was, in fact, a child who inspired him to pursue his doctorate studies at George Mason University, he said.

 When he was a teacher at Southeastern Alternative School he used to always encourage his students to be life-long learners, Doyle said.

One day, one of Doyle's students challenged him by asking what he was doing to be a life-long learner.  He thought for a moment, decided the student was right and eventually went and signed up for classes at George Mason, Doyle said.

 He is currently working on his dissertation and the topic is trusting relationships.

 He has become very deeply involved in relationships, as they are the keys to what makes us humans, “tick” Doyle said.  

 “I feel it’s that important. It’s all about people, how we treat people and how we deal with people and mutual respect. It is important.”

 The only way for everyone to respect each other and learn where each person is coming from, is through open, honest transparent communication, Doyle said. “You might not like what I have to say, but at least you will understand what I have to say.”

 His life experiences, including a 21-year stint in the U.S. Marine Corps, taught him a lot about life, Doyle said.

 “I spent a lot of years overseas, touring primarily in the far East,” he said. “I took 2,500 refugees in one month from South Vietnam to Guam … I was a young second lieutenant with vim and vigor and I thought I was out saving the world."

"And I learned a lot. I learned a lot about suffering. I learned a lot about values and morals and how you treat people. Everyone has values, everyone has a place (and) everyone has something to offer. There is no one who is invaluable.”

 Being called home from overseas because his youngest son was diagnosed with spinal cancer also taught him a lesson about life and the important things, Doyle said.

 He and his family experienced a lot of trauma as his then-21-month-old son underwent surgery and radiation treatments for the cancer, Doyle said.

 His son lived and is now 31 years old.

 “All these things—the experiences I have gone through—have made me realize what is important and what is not important."

 “I’ve been very blessed in what has happened in my life and there’s a lot to be thankful for,” he said.