MEET OUR NEW PRINCIPAL

By Abdulrahim Musa

After 9 years with Principal Caseblot, Edsel Ford welcomes our new principal—Ms. Hassan. I interviewed her the other day, and I just know she will be a great principal for Edsel Ford. Ms. Hassan did not grow up in a diverse and cultural place like Dearborn. At her high school growing up, she felt left out and different from the other students because she was the only one who wore a hijab. Her dream was always to be a teacher—specifically a high school teacher—so that she could help students that went through the same struggles as her. In fact, when she was younger, she always used to play “teacher” with her cousins, and she would always have a passion for the role. As you know, this dream became a reality. Ms. Hassan, who started off as a substitute teacher at Edsel Ford, worked her way up to becoming assistant principal for the McCollough-Unis Elementary School. She was then promoted to being the principal of Becker Elementary, and after that, she became principal at Woodworth Middle School. Now she is the principal at Edsel Ford, a milestone in her career that shows just how dedicated she really is. “I’m very blessed that I've gotten to see all levels of student education; it’s actually allowed me to become a better principal,” Ms. Hassan said in our interview. She has always wanted to work at a high school so she could help those people that are going through what she went through as a student. “I wanted to go into high school education so that...if [a student] can’t find one adult to help support them, that I would at least try to be that one adult,” she said. If you are one of those people that is going through what she went through, Ms. Hassan wants you to know that it gets better. She says, “It gets better, with time, and understanding, being true to yourself. Things will come into play. Never lose faith, and know that sometimes we don’t have to define ourselves with what surrounds us; it’s what’s inside. Acknowledge where you stand.” During the interview, Ms. Hassan referred to the students as her kids, showing how much love and affection she has for her students. She truly wants this job, loves her job, and wants to be a part of our lives. That’s why, every morning, she visits our classrooms to tell us “good morning”. “I want my kids to know that I am always here,” she says. She also admitted that she feels hurt when we don’t say “good morning” back. So, if you ever catch Ms. Hassan in the hallway or when she pops into your class to say “good morning”, make sure to greet her back and make her feel welcomed in our wonderful school.