Trevor Tom Named Principal at Shenandoah High School

By Jeff Harrison

Communications Director

Noble Local School District

Well-aware of the emphasis on STEM culture throughout the district, Trevor Tom is excited to join the “team” at Noble Local.

At Thursday’s NLSD Board of Education meeting, Tom was officially hired as the principal at Shenandoah High School for the 2023-24 school year.

“I’m extremely excited to bring Trevor on board as our next high school principal at Shenandoah,” NLSD Superintendent Justin Denius said. “He very much fits our culture here in terms of an extensive STEM background and an Ag background as well which play into everything we do here and he’s very enthusiastic about kids and school and growth. He’s a younger person full of energy and has the ability to move us forward in the areas we find important here at Shenandoah.

“We think he’ll be a wonderful addition to Zep Nation,” he added.

Board President Ed McKee echoed Denius sentiments.  “We’re looking forward to having Trevor be part of the Noble Local team,” he said. “His background in STEM and Ag are a perfect fit for our ongoing vision to provide the necessary tools for our students and their future.”

Tom is ‘full steam ahead’ regarding his new role.

“I’m extremely excited to be part of the team at Noble Local,” Tom, who comes to Noble Local from the Franklin Local School District, said. “I’ve been working with Justin (Superintendent Justin Denius) and modeling some of their great programs at Philo in my role as a teacher.

“Noble Local is the only place I would have left Franklin Local for,” he added. “I couldn’t imagine a better place to be!”

The emphasis not only on STEM, but on agriculture as well, appealed to Tom.

“Ag is definitely a big part of my personal life,” he said, “but I love the STEM designation and culture that Noble Local has placed in the classroom. I tried to implement that in my classroom without actually knowing that’s what I was doing, but here (at Shenandoah), when you walk into that building you can see it everywhere.

Tom will be “all ears” as he acclimates to what’s going on at Noble Local/Shenandoah.

“I just want to listen to what’s already going well,” he said, “and to capitalize on those strengths and if there are areas that need work, find ways to make things better.

“The idea of personalized learning is big, too,” he added.  “To be able to engage every kid. I’m excited to learn more about what they’re doing in that regard.”

Tom is a 2009 graduate of Philo High School where he was active in 4-H, NHS and the Electrics’ golf team. He graduated from Muskingum University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology (teaching grades 7-12).

His teaching career began as an eighth grade science teacher at Philo Junior High for five years. He left for a year to work at the OSU Extension Office in Muskingum County as a 4-H educator focusing on workforce development and STEM, then returned to the Franklin Local Community School in Roseville teaching grades 7-12 for the last three years.

Tom, who resides in Chandlersville, offered plenty of thank-yous to both Franklin Local and Noble Local.

“I absolutely can’t thank Franklin Local enough for providing me the experiences to grow,” he said.  “The Noble Local community has been awesome! Even in my current role, they have been so supportive of our vision they were willing to help us every step of the way, so I can’t thank them enough.

“They have a great leadership team there,” he added, “and I look forward to being involved with all of them.”