Paul Navarra, The Columbus School’s New Principal for the 2023 – 2024 school year, shares insights into his journey, challenges, and the impact of his leadership throughout his career.

Navarra has been an administrator for over 10 years and has been an educator for most of it. He first began at TCS as an elementary school teacher for 4 years but left the school in 2021. After coming back he became Vice Principal of High School and has since been promoted. 

“This is gonna be my third year here at TCS in the high school, and then many years ago, I was a teacher at the elementary school for four years,” Paul Navarra, High School Principal said.

He had lived in Medellín before, and before returning to TCS, Mr.Navarra and his family were living in Oregon, working as an assistant principal at a high school. However, according to Navarra, they had a strong connection to Colombia and the desire to strengthen their daughter’s ties to her Colombian roots convinced them to return to Medellín. 

“I hope they bury me here; that’s my goal,” Navarra said.

Colombia has been a warm and welcoming environment, according to Navarra. he loves living in Colombia and is meant to live here for the rest of his life. This promotes his excellence at this school since he works with passion.

“The hardest part of this position is often when a challenge or problem gets to me; it’s because a lot of smart people haven’t been able to figure out a solution,” Navarra said.

The weight of responsibility for students and teachers is enormous. Mr.Navarra emphasizes that with leadership comes decision-making power that wasn’t there before. However, he acknowledges the help he has received from his team.

“One of the things I was afraid of becoming a principal was losing that connection with students,” Navarra said.

Mr. Navarra is determined to maintain the connection with students, as he believes it’s the most critical part of his role. To counteract this, they’ve made a concerted effort to be present in classrooms, hallways, and during transitions, ensuring they maintain their bond with the student body.

“I can’t lose that part of the job because then I would not be happy,” Navarra said.

He finds his joy as a leader in his connection with his students, as he claims. He acknowledges that once he is no longer happy in his life and professional career, he will leave his position in the school.

“I wanted to make sure… that the priority is students,” Navarra said.

Having spent 12 years as an assistant principal, Mr.Navarra understands the importance of accessibility for students and staff. Mr.Navarra urges us to maintain the connection with students and staff.

For Mr. Navarra, it’s about connecting with students, teachers, and the wider school community. He exemplifies this philosophy by prioritizing their role as a mentor, guide, and advocate for all involved. As they continue their journey as TCS High School’s principal, their dedication and commitment to its mission.