The CHIEF September 2019

Interview with Principal Bohm By: Joe Gilmor

Hello, everybody, and thanks for tuning in to this month’s edition of The Chief! Since this is our first publication of the school year, we here at The Chief would like to start things out right with some insight from our principal, Mr. Bohm. I recently was granted the opportunity to interview Mr. Bohm, and would now like to share with you a few of the things we discussed. While speaking of the administration’s goals, Mr. Bohm stated that they have not changed all that much in the past several years, and still are geared towards increasing student attendance and graduation rates. The methods with which the administration is achieving these goals have, however, seen some recent changes. For example, freshmen students now have the opportunity to scout out both Illinois State University and Heartland Community College throughout the school year, allowing them to get a head start on life after high school. The administration is also continuing to provide additional tutoring for students in need, has purchased new computer software to allow students to recover lost credits, and is working with both students and staff to improve our PTHS community. Mr. Bohm is proud to be working for PTHS because of its unique offerings to both students and the community. PTHS has seen a massive (roughly 13%) increase to its graduation rate over the past several years, and has a current passage rate of over 98%, a feat almost unheard of for schools of similar size in our area. On top of that, PTHS takes the cake on its diverse selection of athletics, clubs, and other extracurricular opportunities, in which Mr. Bohm strongly encourages students to participate. According to Mr. Bohm, “high school should be a time of exploration” and students should do whatever they can to get involved with their school community. Mr. Bohm would like to leave one last piece of advice for our freshmen, and others who have yet to participate in activities outside of the classroom: “Take advantage of the opportunities that are afforded to you. PTHS offers clubs/activities and athletic programs for all students to be involved and make new friends. High school should be a time of exploration. Take courses that interest and challenge you academically. Do not fear making mistakes- that is how we all learn!”