Homecoming: Family roots run deep for North Fort Myers High’s new principal
Chris Drake’s father, uncle served at the school for decades
A Fort Myers native has taken the helm at North Fort Myers High School, bringing a wealth of experience from various positions throughout the School District of Lee County.
“I still pinch myself every day,” North Fort Myers High School Principal Chris Drake said of his drives to the school and his walks around the campus. “I go back to my 4- or 5-year-old self running around the campus. It’s crazy to see your name outside the door. I am grateful for the hands, support, and investment that people made in my life to get me here.”
Drake will hold a meet-and-greet at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 23, in the North Fort Myers High School auditorium, so he can share a little bit of his story and vision as he begins his next chapter as the principal.
Drake’s ties to North Fort Myers High School run deep as his father was a math teacher at the school for 35 years, as well as a wrestling coach. He said he remembers being a young child running around the school helping his dad prepare his room, and being on the wrestling mats.
“My ties to North High run very deep because I have been part of the place ever since I can remember,” Drake said.
His uncle, John Drake, was the assistant principal at North Fort Myers High School for 22-23 years.
“The Drake name has had good lineage here. I hope to continue that,” he said. “High school opportunities don’t happen a lot. If I ever wanted to jump and provide myself with that opportunity to grow, I needed to throw my hat in the ring and see what happened. I was fortunate and blessed to even be considered and offered the position. It was truly a special moment.”
With North already being a well-established school —- and an A school last year —- Drake said it provides him with the opportunity to come in and learn while doing a lot of listening.
His hope is not only to continue North being the best in Lee County, but the best in the state.
“I have a big vision here. I started it at Challenger —- a 1% better every day mentality while pursuing this 80, 90, 100 vision,” Drake said. “At least 80% of kids to be proficient, 90% to experience learning gains and 100% in the lowest 25% group experiencing gains,” Drake said. “Academically, I don’t ever want to become complacent. I am a pretty competitive person. I will continue to strive towards greatness in that area.”
In addition, Drake wants to continue to grow the arts program, even in times where schools are faced with challenging budgets. He said it is important to provide those experiences and opportunities for the kids.
He also hopes to grow Athletics, and Career Technical Education.
Drake said he is rolling up his sleeves and getting to work with everyone to continue to make North a great place to be.
Drake, who was born at Lee Memorial Hospital, attended Tanglewood Elementary School, Dunbar Middle School and graduated from Fort Myers High School before attending Florida Gulf Coast University. He said he turned his green clothes in for red —- a fun conversation had with his staff.
In 2009, he took his first teaching job at Fort Myers High School, his alma mater, where he remained for six years teaching everything from algebra one to entry level pre-calculus. Drake also coached wrestling and volleyball.
As a Fort Myers High student, he was on the wrestling team —- a full circle moment.
“It was a cool moment to not only give back to the school that helped me graduate high school and a wrestling program that built characteristics that I still use today,” Drake said.
From Fort Myers High his journey took him to many different positions throughout the school district —- teaching sixth and seventh grade math at Fort Myers Middle School, a math coach for secondary schools in the district office, before having the most transformational years of his teaching career at James Stephens Elementary School with now Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ken Savage.
The years were a turnaround effort for the school that just became a K-5 from a K-8 at that time.
“I taught math there. What a journey it was. I helped the school go from an F to a B. The impact we were having on the community, kids, it was really such a special place and so many lessons learned during my time there,” Drake said about both his personal growth, but instructional teaching practice growth. “I really had to get out of my comfort zone and humble myself a little bit. It really shifted some of my teaching practices.”
He finished his master’s degree because he knew he wanted to become an administrator at the high school level.
“I knew if I wanted to have a positive impact on high school as an administrator, I needed to be put myself back in the climate again,” Drake said of the high school standards and operations. “I went to Cypress Lake High School and taught geometry and algebra II there. It was a blessing. I was given the opportunity to grow.”
His administration journey began at Bonita Springs High School, where he got to see the freshmen class through graduation
“I learned a lot at each stop,” Drake said. “I truly am grateful for every one of those challenges and opportunities. I wouldn’t have the lens on the work now if it wasn’t for that.”
Other positions also included working in leadership development at the district office where he spent time growing aspiring leaders, before becoming the principal at Challenger Middle School for the last two years.
Drake said he would not be where he is today without his parents’ love and support, as well as his wife.
“This job is not possible without the foundation at home. She has been a support since day one,” Drake said of his wife.
His wife is a sixth-grade English Language Arts teacher at Bayshore. The couple has four children, one in middle school and three in elementary school.
“I want to thank Debbie (Diggs) and every principal that has become before me,” Drake said. “The transition has been smooth and supportive. I have big shoes to fill, and I am not blind to that. I am grateful for what she has done to preserve North.”