With Camp Verde High School ending for the year, the school district is gearing up for the new school year starting in the fall. Along with the usual preparations come a new transition this year: Mark Showers, assistant principal and athletic director, is moving up to principal of Camp Verde High School.
“I’ve never really aspired to being the principal,” Showers said. “I’ve been very happy as an assistant principal and being the Camp Verde athletic director.”
Showers expressed surprise that he was chosen, but nevertheless said that after talking and praying over the decision with his wife, he was committed to taking the position, feeling it is his duty to give back to the community as much as he can.
“When the superintendent comes to you and says, ‘Hey, I need your help. Would you consider doing this?’ I said absolutely I’d consider doing it,” Showers said. “Camp Verde is my home. I grew up here, I worked here, my family is rooted here. And so anything I can do to help my home, which includes the school, I’m going to do.”
Showers has spent 21 years as athletic director at CVHS. He had taught at Bradshaw Mountain High School in Prescott Valley for a year before that, until he saw an opening at the school in his hometown and leapt at the opportunity. In addition to athletics, Showers has also taught history and physical education. He said he believes his combined experience on both the athletic and education sides of the high school make him qualified to handle the whole school.
Showers said he will miss the chance to lead the athletic program, though he hopes to still be involved and attend games as often as possible.
“The biggest thing you miss when you move from one position to another is the people,” Showers said. “That’s what I tell my basketball players. When the season’s over and done with and you move on and you’re not playing team sports any more, you don’t remember whether you won this game or lost that game, or how many points you scored. You remember your teammates.” In a similar fashion, Showers said he believes the most important aspect of the job will be to strengthen the high school’s sense of community.
“To me, the school has to provide more in terms of relationships in an area like Camp Verde,” said Showers, referring to the low socioeconomic status of many families in the district.
“Kids need two things: They need love and they need accountability,” he said. “And you can’t have one without the other. So the bottom line is we got to love our kids and we got to hold them accountable. We want our students to be students that can respect other people, that can care for other people. There’s more than just basic academics, although academics are extremely important. You have to establish a culture that kids feel safe and are excited to learn in.”
Showers is replacing Jason Douvikas as principal. Douvikas is taking on Showers’ old role as assistant principal, as well as taking on roles as mentor teacher and test coordinator for the district.
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
