To begin the new school year, Sealy High School welcomed new staff committed to the school’s mission of ensuring high levels of learning for all. Among the new employees who hope to positively impact their students are Assistant Principal Jason Levin and agriculture teacher Morgan Ognoskie.

Levin served as a band director for two decades and was most recently an assistant principal at a junior high school in Katy ISD. Ognoskie is entering her first full year as a teacher after recently graduating from Sam Houston State and student-teaching in the spring at Royal High School.

Although the 2021-2022 school year could be riddled with complications from the ongoing pandemic, the new staff is determined to overcome any adversity and make this school year great for the students they serve.

Jason Levin

Levin is entering his 24th year as an educator and intends on using his student-first mindset to encourage students and staff to exceed their own expectations. “I think the content is important and knowing your content is important, but it ultimately comes down to connecting with kids,” explained Levin. “I call that the kid connection part, but now as a leader, I can do that with adults too.”

Levin said his relationship-centric strategy as an assistant principal should lead to an environment that encourages both learning and cooperation.

“I think it’s the best skill that I bring with me into this administration,” Levin said. “When you get to know people as people, then you start to gain that mutual respect and you have cooperation instead of head butting and friction.”

The new assistant principal acknowledged the difficulties that may arise due to COVID-19 this year, but won’t allow his academic standards to drop.

“Obviously our biggest goal this year is to try to keep school open and safe for every single kid and staff member,” said Levin. “I’d like to see 100% of our seniors graduate, and then have a plan for what they’re going to do next year and for years to come.”

Levin emphasized that his goal is to help all of the students and staff he works with achieve their goals and prepare for their futures.

“I think that’s the biggest thing; making sure that every single senior has a successful launch into whatever it is they’re going to do in the future,” he said.

Morgan Ognoskie

Ognoskie is a recent graduate from Sam Houston State University who also plans on using a hands-on teaching style to share her passion for agriculture with her students.

Ognoskie will teach a number of subjects including floral design, speech, advanced animal science, livestock production and wildlife.

“My major was interdisciplinary agriculture, with a minor in secondary education,” Ognoskie said. “I feel like I was well prepared from my college experience … I feel like I’ve got this down for the most part.”

Ognoskie student-taught at Royal High School in Brookshire in the spring and reported that the experience confirmed her desire to be an agriculture teacher at the secondary level.

“I felt real comfortable around all the kids and it just made me realize that this is really what I want to do,” Ognoskie said of her experience.

Similar to Dr. Levin’s approach, Ognoskie hopes to encourage learning in her students by creating a deep personal connection with them.

Ognoskie wants her students to know that “We’re going to be there to help them. When they’re nervous or scared, for whatever reason, whether it’s showing or competing, (etcetera), they can do it and they’ve got it.”

Because Wednesday was her official first day of school as a full-time teacher, Ognoskie acknowledged she was experiencing some nervousness as well as excitement in the lead-up to the start of the year.

“I hope that the kids are going to like my class and see how enthusiastic I am when it comes to animals and all the classes are going to be taking with me,” Ognoskie said of some goals for the first day of school.