When you walk around Kearsley High School, you’ll meet a lot of friendly faces, from Angie in the main office to Mr. Gerace in the halls, but there is one member of the faculty you may or may not wish to see, and that’s the captain of our school, our principal, Mr. Brian Wiskur.
After 19 years with Kearsley High School, Mr. Wiskur is calling it quits on his tenure here at Kearsley. “After 36 years (19 at Kearsley), I’m just flatly worn out.”
Mr. Wiskur started to grace the halls of Kearsley High School in 2006 when he was brought in as an Assistant Principal. Wiskur became the principal of Kearsley High School in 2016.
Over the last 19 years at Kearsley, Mr. Wiskur improved on his role by attending multiple professional development courses and going to monthly meetings with county principals. “We bounce ideas off each other,” Wiskur said in our interview.
When reflecting on his tenure, Wiskur mentioned that one of his most cherished moments is graduation. He said, “Seniors walking across the stage and thanking you for helping them and getting them across that stage.” Those graduations will always be cherished memories.
The Class of 2025 will be Mr. Wiskur’s last as principal. When asked about his personal plans for his last commencement he offered little comment, stating, “I don’t want to spoil much.” Wiskur went on to say, “I’ll talk about the future and what this class has meant to me.” He also complimented the class, saying, “There are some really good kids in this class,” but he also said, “There are some kids that drive me absolutely bonkers.”
When directly asked about his choice to retire, he said, “I feel that somebody younger can give more to Kearsley than I can give now.”
Over his tenure at Kearsley, one of the more difficult situations happened a couple of days ago when the new Kearsley Recreation Center caught fire after a generator on site blew up. Wiskur described how he was in the 100 hallway at the time of the explosion. He instantly sent out a Raptor alert to the teachers and rushed back to the office to alert the students about what was happening. Wiskur was proud of the students for how they handled the incident. “With the kids having to go outside, then into the auditorium, the kids were amazing.”
News of Mr. Wiskur’s retirement has spread throughout the school, with many students and staff expressing mixed emotions—gratitude for his years of leadership and sadness at seeing him leave. His presence in the hallways, warm greetings, and dedication to Kearsley will be remembered long after he’s gone. Whether it was guiding students through challenges or celebrating their achievements, Mr. Wiskur’s impact has left a lasting legacy at Kearsley High School. His influence on the lives of countless students and staff will not be forgotten.
When asked about his retirement plans, he stated, “I’m going to take about a month or two off, then I’m going to go into my next career, whatever that may be. I haven’t figured that out yet. I want a part-time job to stay busy. I’ve got to work to keep my mind going.”
As I sat in Mr. Wiskur’s office conducting this interview, I thought back to the memories I had of him. Throughout my time at Kearsley, Mr. Wiskur has been a person you could go to—a friendly face in the hallway, someone you could trust.
As Mr. Wiskur prepares to pass the torch, many may wonder what lies ahead for Kearsley High School. The next principal will certainly have big shoes to fill, but if there’s one thing Mr. Wiskur taught us, it’s that great leadership comes from a genuine love for the school and its students.
On behalf of the Kearsley High School students and faculty, we thank you for your service as our principal. You will be missed by us all. Thank you, Mr. Wiskur.
