Mason City High School is welcoming a new assistant principal this year. Brad Hurst was hired to fill the vacant position left after Barry Anderson was hired for the Activities Director position. After a few years as a classroom teacher, Brad Hurst had some opportunities to become involved in various leadership positions through organizations and committees. Through these experiences, he developed a passion for leadership and for serving others. Eventually, Hurst went back to school at Drake University to get a second Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and to become a licensed school administrator. Last Spring, he began to search for administrative opportunities that were a great fit for his personality.
Having been a classroom teacher for 4A high schools in the Des Moines Metro area, Mr. Hurst was ideally searching for a similar school to begin his administrative career. Prior to this year, he taught high school science (biology, chemistry, and environmental science, among others) for twelve years at three different high schools (Des Moines East, Johnston, and Waukee). He liked the idea of having a team of other administrators to work with and learn from. When the opportunity became available to serve at Mason City High School, he immediately submitted his application. He was fortunate enough to be chosen to interview and even more fortunate to be selected for this position. As an added bonus, he has family that lives in the Cresco, IA area, and they are only about an hour away now.
He has been married since 2007 to his wife, Shelley, who he met while earning his first degree at Drake University. He has a daughter, Holly, who was born on Christmas day in 2016. His wife is a student advisor at Purdue Global and his daughter attends day care at Charlie Brown. He doesn’t have as much free time as he used to, yet one passion he has always had is exercising. This developed when he was in eighth grade and started to lift weights before school. Ever since then, he has done his best to lift weights several times a week. Hurst stated, “I am terrible at doing and keeping up on cardio exercise, yet always enjoy the time I can lift weights.”
One major goal he has would be to get to know all of the students and staff at MCHS. He works with the freshmen and senior students, so he would like to discover ways he can help them to have a great experience while at MCHS. Hurst thanks everyone who helped him transition to MCHS. This includes our other administrators (Mr. Long, Mr. Phipps, and Mr. Anderson), our office secretaries (Mrs. Murphy, Mrs. Rottinghaus, Mrs. Collins, and Mrs. Brock), our guidance counselors (Mr. Rhodes, Mrs. Wymore, and Mrs. Severson), and all of our astounding MCHS staff. Please welcome Mason City High School’s newest administrative staff member, our vice principal, Mr. Brad Hurst.