As the newly appointed principal of South Demming High School, Mark Mahovlics days are defined by an uneasiness that accompanies doing anything for the first time. Now ultimately responsible for nearly three thousand students and staff members, Mark must do his part to move the large and volatile institution that has been neglected for years into the future. But as he is about to discover, South Demming has become a landscape where it is extremely challenging to prove his merit.
In an environment where his supervisors embrace a less humane leadership style and an unwillingness to believe the school can be changed for the better, Mahovlic finds himself fighting the war on violence, serving as the matador for a national immigration issue that finds its way into South Demming, and reveling in the successes of the school’s football team as it strives to win a championship for its venerable coach. In his efforts to negotiate past many boundaries, Mahovlic becomes an unwitting target for his foes. Now only time will tell if Mahovlic can use his heart and mind to open the doors to endless possibilities, sway his doubters, and electrify a community.
In this poignant story, a new principal embraces a deeply ingrained school culture and attempts to create positive change despite his seemingly insurmountable challenges.
