On the morning of May 20, Mr. Timothy Dadich made the announcement to the FHS faculty that he would be leaving at the end of the 2013-2014 school year. Once the news reached the student body, one question became prevalent: Why?
Dadich, for a multitude of reasons, has decided to take a job elsewhere. Starting at the beginning of next school year, he will be working as the principal of Sharpsville High School, which is only about 15-20 minutes from his home.
The decision to leave FHS came down to financial issues and the fact that his family time has been limited due to all of his time and effort at the school. Dadich’s son was diagnosed with autism last year, which also led to more financial strife and influenced his decision to be closer to his family.
According to Dadich, he loves attending school events, but when they are in the evening, he doesn’t have time to make the trip to and from FHS a second time, nor is it financially feasible; he remains at the school until after the event, and he wouldn’t see his kids at all until after work the next day.
“My wife has been almost a single parent, and it’s been very hard on her,” Dadich said.
Dadich also wants to assure the student body this decision has nothing to do with them or the staff, because he cares for all of them dearly.
“I don’t know if people are upset, or mad, or don’t understand, but [I’m not leaving] because of the teachers or the kids here, by any means, because I love them all,” Dadich said. “This is very hard for me; I don’t want to go, but I need to. I have to put my family first.”
Dr. Jeffrey Fuller, the school district’s superintendent, fully supports Dadich and the decision he has made.
“The impact he has had has been significant; [it’s been a] very, very positive impact. I couldn’t be prouder of the work that he’s done up there. He’s done a great job, but I also understand completely [that he wants] to take on a position that’s closer to his family,” Fuller said. “The hours that he has to keep [as a high school principal] are intense, and when you add two and a half or three hours of drive time on top of that, it’s wearing. His family is very important to him, as it should be, so we have to support him in doing that.”
The influence that Dadich has left upon FHS and its students has been immense, according to Junior Kelly Staschak.
“The impact that I think he left was massive. He changed Freedom completely,” Staschak said. “One of the biggest things that he did was believe in us, which is what we all needed.”
According to Dadich, the students and faculty here at Freedom have left the same type of effect on him.
“I think we went through a lot together. My experience with the teachers here, and especially the students, too, has made me a better person, better leader [and] better educator,” Dadich said. “It has made me see things a little bit differently, and I’m happy for that; that will have a lasting impact on my practice.”
Staschak believes that Dadich has touched students’ lives on a more personal level, and this surely won’t be forgotten.
“Last year, [Dadich] said something to me, and I still think about: ‘One moment doesn’t define who you are. Learn from the mistake. I still believe in you, dear.’ That quote has helped me so much… just to know that somebody believes in me when I don’t believe in myself,” Staschak added.
Fuller explained that the administration is trying to find a replacement for Dadich as quickly as possible, but he also says that it’s more important to find the right person to fill Dadich’s shoes and “continue the positive movement that we’ve seen up at the high school.”
Although the mystery of who Freedom High School’s new principal will be still remains, it’s important to understand the process behind finding a replacement isn’t that easy.

“The level of academic rigor, the behavioral expectations, the level of respect, all of those things that Mr. Dadich has really worked hard to instill over the course of the last two years, we want to make sure that we have a person in place that will continue those programs,” Fuller said. “Certainly someone new will put their own kind of flavor, their own kind of twist, to it, but really we want to keep the positive movement going in that school.”

If the past two years are any indication, the changes at Freedom will continue to take place, but Dadich believes that the students will be able to handle it.
“You guys are fantastic, and I’ve been a lot of different places… Freedom has really some of the toughest kids as far as what you guys have to deal with, and you’re able to rise above those,” Dadich said. “You guys are very resilient, and I love that about you…That’s what I’ll miss the most.”
Dadich added that he sees a lot potential throughout the student body, and he knows that we can accomplish great things.
“Don’t let anybody tell you that you’re not good enough, because you are. I think you guys could be the best in the state, with or without me,” Dadich said.
Dadich hopes to have impressed upon Freedom students a stronger sense of school pride and a desire to exceed expectations. “Yes, you guys are Freedom, and you can be number one. There’s nothing holding you back,” Dadich added.
“The first time when I was here, and I was watching the band go and listening to you guys, sitting in the classrooms and listening to the conversations taking place, I knew within the first weeks of school that there was something special here,” Dadich said. “As long as you guys believe in yourselves, don’t let others tear you down. There’s nothing stopping you.”