A new principal has been hired for Homer High School and is set to begin next school year. Eric Pederson has more than two decades of educational leadership experience and is not new to Homer or the Kenai Peninsula. He is currently the school district’s director of Elementary Education and previously served as the principal of Paul Banks Elementary from 2013 to 2021. He holds a Master of Education in K-12 education administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage.

According to a post on Homer High School’s official Facebook page, Pederson’s leadership is marked by “strong collaboration, high expectations, and a deep belief in the potential of every student (and) throughout his career — from his early days teaching in rural Alaska to his work as a principal mentor and state leader — Eric has built a reputation as a thoughtful, student-centered leader who leads with integrity, vision, and heart.”

During his public interview held last week, Pederson said he grew up in a household of educators and spent his fair share of time in the principal’s office as a student, giving him a unique perspective on the student-principal relationship.

When asked why he wants to work at Homer High School, he had a simple answer.

“I want to make it the best school in the state.”

Pederson said his biggest priority is building relationships, which require a “building block of trust” between staff and students. His philosophy on discipline is that it is an opportunity for growth.

“It’s a chance to help a young adult make decisions that are better.”

When asked what meaningful student interaction looks like for him, Pederson said he spends a lot of time in hallways, connecting with students.

“Again, it’s all about relationships and trust.”

Principal Douglas Waclawski announced his retirement at the end of the 2024-2025 school year in Homer High School’s March 2025 newsletter. Waclawski was the principal at Homer High School for 15 years.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District representatives interviewed four candidates, including Pederson, for the position Wednesday, April 9. Around 60 people attended on Zoom, with more attending in person at the Homer High School library.

Each candidate was asked 14 questions over 45 minutes. Audience members were welcome to listen but not allowed to ask questions or interact with the applicants. Those in attendance were given an online survey, along with a link to the candidates’ resumes, to provide community feedback on the interviews.

Other candidates interviewed were current Seward High School Principal Henry Burns; Christopher Ruggles, assistant principal for activities at both Dimond and South Anchorage High Schools; and Katie Bynagle, current assistant principal at Homer High School.

Henry Burns

Henry Burns is the current principal of Seward High School, where he has worked since 2021. He previously worked in North Pole and Tampa, Florida, as an assistant principal. He earned a doctorate in educational program development and a Master of Education in educational leadership through the University of South Florida.

He said he was in foster care as a child and was homeless during his senior year of high school. The experience helped shape him into the educator he is today.

He said that if hired, his message to the community in his first 90 days would be “I know Homer is exceptional, but what can I bring to it?”

Both Burns and Pederson expressed interest in improving nontraditional and career and technical education program opportunities at Homer High School, expanding upon the school’s high academic output.

Burns said he considers himself a student-centered leader. He said he was part of the team that started an Icelandic Prevention Model-based project in Seward, known as Youth 360. The SKP Resilience Coalition has recently begun work to implement its own Icelandic Prevention Model-based project in Homer, called Planet Youth Homer.

Burns said that while the role of a principal is important, he sees supporting teachers as one of the biggest components of his leadership style.

“The most important person in that building is the teacher in front of those kids. Not me. It’s the teacher in front of those kids.”

Christopher Ruggles

Christopher Ruggles holds a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Kansas. He currently serves as the assistant principal for activities at both Dimond and South Anchorage High Schools.

Ruggles said he works hard at what he does and expects others to do the same. He enjoys empowering others to do their best, both his students and his staff. He prefers to lead with love and understanding.

“We’re all human. We all have lives,” he said during his interview. “We all face challenges that we don’t always see. I think it’s important to be understanding. We’re all living life together, and we’re all doing the best we can.”

On the note of discipline, Ruggles pointed out that consequences are how teenagers learn.

He also said that when staff turn up to student events and activities, students notice.

“Having events where everyone shows up is important,” Ruggles said. “When they show up to those things, it creates this culture of ‘Oh, we’re all in this together.’”

Katie Bynagle

Katie Bynagle is the current assistant principal at Homer High School. She holds a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Alaska Southeast and a Master of Science in curriculum and instruction from Western Governors University.

Bynagle said she’s been in education for about 20 years, in some capacity or another. She says the biggest thing she’s focused on during her time at HHS is engaging students. She referenced a book she’s recently been reading by author Ruby Payne. Bynagle said the book is about understanding the adolescent brain and how kids create their own self-fulfilling stories.

“So when you have a kid who has a story of belonging, or they feel a sense of belonging, then they have a story of engagement. If they feel a sense of always having to compete, it’s a story of competition. And if they have a sense of not belonging, then their story is disengagement. And it goes for parents as well. Making kids and parents not just feel like they belong, but genuinely making them belong.”

She said that if students feel like they belong at school, there will be fewer problems with chronic absenteeism issues. She wants students to know that they’re wanted at Homer High School.

“We’re in the beginning stages of planning a pancake breakfast on the very first day of school that teachers would be a part of,” she said. “I want to build the energy and keep it high at our school.”

Bynagle also mentioned the Icelandic Prevention Model work being done in Homer. She attended a meeting the SKP Resilience Coalition hosted on Planet Youth Homer on Tuesday afternoon.

Bynagle said she’s invested in the local community and ready to serve as principal, if chosen.

“If I were to get this job, you would be getting a person who has strong integrity, who has some clearly defined goals for what they want to see the school become, and who’s willing to work with teachers, students, and community members to make it happen.”

Reach reporter Chloe Pleznac at chloe.pleznac@homernews.com.