Something remarkable is happening at Pinckneyville Community High School. Students arrive early – some as early as 6:15 a.m. – not because they have to, but because they want to. They come to work out in the gym, finish homework, socialize with friends, and start their day in a place that feels like home. This is no accident, it is all by design.

This cultural transformation didn't happen overnight. Under the leadership of Superintendent Andrew Dagner and Principal Haven Hicks, both hometown graduates who returned to serve their community, PCHS has become a destination where students genuinely want to be.

"Our philosophy is making school a place of acceptance where you're safe, you're fed, it's cool, it's warm," explains Hicks, now in his third year as principal. "Because you might not be getting this at home."

The numbers tell a compelling story. Freshman on-track rates jumped from 94% to 100% this past year, while graduation rates climbed from 88% in 2023 to 95% today. But behind these statistics lies something deeper – a fundamental shift in how students experience school.

"We've been trying to transition the culture," Hicks says. "You can't just tell kids to do something because it's the right thing to do. You have to build that personal relationship, and they have to like you and trust you."

This philosophy extends throughout the building. Every period during class transitions, teachers stand outside their doors, not just monitoring but actively engaging with students on a personal level. Both administrators make it a priority to be visible and present every day, creating the consistency many students lack at home.

The impact is evident in student voices. When asked to describe their school experience, four seniors independently used words like "unity," "welcoming," and "heartwarming."

Mason Swain, a senior involved in choir, band, and theater, describes the school as "heartwarming, loving and caring." Despite arriving at 7:05 a.m. daily just to secure a good parking spot, he spends the extra time productively, often greeting Principal Hicks with their daily handshake.

For Skyler Severino, the transformation has been life-changing. Moving to Pinckneyville in eighth grade as a frequent discipline problem, he credits Hicks with turning his life around. "When he met me, I was not the best student. But then Mr. Hicks became my principal, and now I'm just like the best kid in the world," Skyler says. He arrives early to socialize and complete homework, having gone from spending half his eighth-grade year in detention or suspension to just one lunch detention in high school.

Ty Laur, a 6'8" basketball player who recently signed with SIU-C, arrives at 6:15 a.m. to work out in the gym before showering and eating breakfast at school. Despite his athletic success, he emphasizes that PCHS is "a great opportunity because everyone's friends with everyone."

Arryn Overturf, who describes herself as academically focused, appreciates how teachers understand that "college isn't for everyone" and support diverse post-graduation paths. She values the school's responsiveness to student interests, noting how new clubs like chess and youth advisory council emerge when students express interest.

The school offers extensive programming beyond traditional academics – from soccer and golf to bass fishing, gaming teams, and special education inclusion programs that have students lining hallways to cheer on their PAWS basketball team.

"We try to fit all niches of student here, not just one," Hicks explains. The approach extends to supporting students regardless of their circumstances, providing social work services, food assistance, and basic needs support while maintaining high academic expectations.

Dagner, who calls this "the best job I've ever had," emphasizes their mission: “Our goal is to attract families to our community. We may not be able to bring  the coal mines back, but we can make this a destination, where people choose to live and commute elsewhere, because they want their children to attend our schools.” The result is a school where, as Hicks puts it, "We're all Panthers here. We're not different. When you're here, we're together. We're one group, and we rally around the Panther sign because that's the one thing we can all relate to."