Dear Performance High School East Students and Families,

I am honored to introduce myself as the principal of Performance High School East. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this community, and I am excited about what we can build together.

I believe deeply that a student’s circumstances should never determine the size of their future. My own life has included hardship, setbacks, and moments when the road ahead was not clear. Those experiences taught me the value of perseverance—and the power of having adults who see potential in you, challenge you, and stay beside you while you grow.

That belief is at the center of my work as an educator. I have had the privilege of working with students from early childhood through college, and I have learned that young people rise when they are given both high expectations and meaningful support. Students do not need adults to lower the bar; they need adults who will help them reach it.

Athletics reinforced those lessons in my own life. As a student-athlete, Olympic Trials qualifier, and Masters Division Olympic and World Champion in shot put, I learned that excellence is built through discipline, consistency, resilience, and coaching. Talent matters, but effort, character, and the willingness to keep going when things are difficult matter even more. Those lessons guide the way I lead.

Our shared goal is clear: Performance High School East will become a five-star high school.

A five-star school is not defined only by a rating, a test score, or a building. It is defined by the opportunities it creates and the futures it helps students build. It is a school where every student is known by name, challenged to grow, supported through obstacles, and prepared to leave with a plan.

At Performance High School East, we will help students prepare for and pursue high-quality pathways that lead to real opportunity:

• College Readiness: Rigorous academics, dual-credit opportunities when available, and support for students pursuing two-year and four-year colleges and universities.
• Career and Technical Pathways: Guidance, preparation, and connections that help students explore industry credentials, technical training, apprenticeships, and high-demand careers after high school.
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Opportunities to create, problem-solve, lead, and develop the confidence to turn ideas into action.

Every pathway matters. A student pursuing college, a skilled trade, military service, a technical credential, or entrepreneurship deserves the same respect, preparation, and belief. Our responsibility is not to decide a student’s future for them. Our responsibility is to help them discover their strengths, understand their options, and develop the skills and character to pursue their goals.

To our students: You will be expected to work hard, attend consistently, treat others with respect, and take ownership of your future. You will also have a team of adults committed to knowing you, supporting you, and refusing to give up on you. Your past may be part of your story, but it does not have to be the limit of your future.

To our families: Your partnership is essential. The strongest schools are built through trust, communication, and shared expectations. I will listen, be present, communicate honestly, and work to earn your confidence through my actions.

We have important work ahead, and I am ready for it. Together, we will build a school where students do more than graduate—they leave prepared, confident, connected, and ready to pursue college, career, entrepreneurship, and a meaningful life.

I look forward to meeting you, learning from you, and building the future of Performance High School East together.

With appreciation and high expectations,

John Larkin Maynard, Ed.S.
Principal
Performance High School East