This school year marks a fresh chapter for Salem Community High School as two familiar faces step into new leadership roles. Principal Clint Wolfe, a 2000 graduate of the school, and long-time special education teacher Kelsey Pogue, are now sharing the mantle of administration. Together, they bring different paths but a shared passion for helping students and building trust.

For Wolfe, returning to lead at his alma mater feels like both a privilege and a responsibility. “High school was some of the best years of my life,” he said, reflecting on friendships that stretched across social groups and activities. That breadth of experience, he believes, prepared him to understand the many different types of students who walk the halls today. After initially wavering between an interest in aviation and education while at Southern Illinois University, Wolfe chose the classroom—and later discovered a knack for leadership.

Still, stepping into administration didn’t happen overnight. “When I walked in, people were still talking about my predecessor, Mr. Newell. Everybody loved him,” Wolfe recalled. “I learned pretty quickly that you can’t be somebody else’s idea of you. You’ve got to find your own way.”

For Pogue, her route was equally unexpected. Fourteen years ago, she answered a job posting that led her to Salem Community High School as a special education teacher. With a family legacy in education—her mother was a principal—she had long thought about moving into administration but only if it could be tied to the right opportunity. But when the opportunity arose this year, she felt compelled to step up. “There were things I wanted to do for students at a bigger scale, and this was the way to do it.”

Both Wolfe and Pogue talk often about the importance of meeting students where they are—whether that’s athletes striving for championships, reluctant learners finding their confidence, or kids simply needing an adult to notice them. “We’ve got kids coming here hungry,” Wolfe said. “And we’ve got kids who have everything handed to them. But every one of them needs someone to help them grow.”

That mindset has extended beyond students to the staff themselves. Together, Wolfe and Pogue have championed the creation of a new “faculty fan club,” an initiative designed to rebuild camaraderie among teachers while also showing up for students at games, concerts, and competitions. The first faculty tailgate this fall drew nearly 80 staff and their families, sparking a sense of connection that had eroded over time. “It’s about more than just supporting kids,” Wolfe explained. “It’s about getting to know each other again. When staff are connected, it’s easier to support students.”

Pogue agrees, noting how even something as simple as attending a tennis match led to a new conversation with a colleague she might never have otherwise had. “I found out she had played tennis in high school,” she said. “That connection wouldn’t have happened without being there.”

Building trust—with students, parents, and faculty—remains their guiding principle. Wolfe emphasizes that showing up is more powerful than any words. “I can tell someone I’ve got their back a hundred times, but it only matters when I show them,” he said. For Pogue, the heart of Salem is the community itself. “This isn’t where I grew up, but it’s where my kids are growing up—as Wildcats. That makes it personal.”

The challenges of administration are real: long hours, tough decisions, and the pressure to balance the needs of students, staff, and families. But both Wolfe and Pogue see the opportunities as greater than the obstacles. “There are stressful days, sure,” Wolfe admitted. “But the chance to make a difference—that outweighs everything.”

As Salem Community High School moves forward under their leadership, the new team of Clint Wolfe and Kelsey Pogue is proving that administration isn’t just about policies and procedures. It’s about people—supporting them, believing in them, and showing up for them. And in that, Salem’s future looks to be in good hands.