Every edition this year we have covered a student or faculty member here at Mustang Nation that is both unique and unknown. However, we have yet to pay tribute to a MCHS legend. This individual is our very own principal, Mr. Michael Ceglinski. Before becoming a principal, he was a biology teacher at Lone Oak High School.

When asked how he discovered his passion for teaching, Ceglinski responded,“I tutored kids while I was in college and felt like I had discovered my gift. I also loved biology so it made sense for me to teach something I loved.”

Most students don’t think about their teachers or principals having lives outside of school. But in the small amounts of time that he can sneak away from the responsibilities of being the leader of a school with over 2,000 students, you can find him in the gym, running, or spending time with his family.

Everyone here at MCHS knows that Mr. Ceglinski is a big music fan. When asked what song he feels describes him, he answered, “I don’t think there is one particular song but when you hear an 80’s tune, think of me. That decade, musically, has been my favorite.”

There are many other interesting facts about Mr. Ceglinski. His favorite food is chocolate (he calls it his guilty pleasure), and his favorite tv show in high school/college was “Beverly Hills 90210”. When asked if there were any fictional characters he could relate to, he answered, “Superman…not because I have any special powers but because with my job I feel like I jump into a phone booth and come out as one person during the day and when I go home I turn back into Clark Kent.” Another question we asked Mr. Ceglinski is how he feels about The Mustang Messenger’s Ceglinski head rating system, to which he responded, “I absolutely love the Ceglinski head rating system. What a genius idea!”

Everyone has a role model who has inspired them to be the best they can be, to try new things and get out of their comfort zones, or to support their decisions they make along the way. “My wife is one of the strongest people I know. She inspires me to be a better person every day. She went to nursing school, helped me raise three kids and sacrificed for me to open this school. She’s incredible.” Ceglinski commented.

When asked about what he loves most about MCHS, he expressed, “There are a million things I love about our school but I have to say our culture is something I have never experienced anywhere before.  The pride that everyone has in the school is incredible. We are lucky to have a school with all of the programs and opportunities. There is a place for everyone here at MCHS.” He also has big dreams for MCHS in the future, “I want our school to be a leader in the state in personalized learning for students.  We need to provide a tailored learning experience for students.”

Mr. Ceglinski is the reason this school has become the force that it has. Without all of his hard work, who knows where we would be. So if you see him in the hallways or anywhere else, make sure you let him know how much you appreciate him! Thank you for all you do Mr. C!