Sonya Tice is the new freshman principal for the 2014-15 school year. This is her 18th year working in the district, but only her first year at Maize High. She recently graduated with her Master’s in Administration from Wichita State University and decided to take the first step in her new career by becoming an assistant principal.

There were multiple reasons why she chose Maize, including the fact that her daughters attend school here.

“I’ve heard amazing things about what Mr. [Chris] Botts has done for the climate at Maize High School, and I love this age group. I thought it was absolutely a perfect place for me to be,” Tice said.

She mentioned feeling very welcome by all the students and staff.

“Everybody here, from the staff to the kids, is so nice,” Tice said. “Even if they don’t know I’m the assistant principal everyone says ‘Hey, good morning’ and everyone is very nice.”

She mentioned she was excited to see the sports bring all of the students together as a family. Tice’s main goal for the school year is to put Character Ed on the forefront and to make it as important as math and reading. She is on the Character Ed committee and waiting to see change.

“I just would like the staff and students to realize how important that is and creating the student as a whole,” Tice said.

Her most interesting memory as an elementary teacher was at Maize East (where Maize Middle is now) in her fifth-grade classroom.

“I always had my students do a talent show because I always said ‘Everyone has a talent. You all have to get up on stage and perform.’ Everyone always just did it. It was during my fourth year doing that, that my kids kind of turned on me during the talent show. In the second to last act they said ‘And now Mrs. Tice is going to get on stage and perform her talent!’ I had never performed and the kids were putting me on the spot. The auditorium was filled with fifth-grade students cheering me on. I sang ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.’ From then on I said ‘If you want to perform.’ “