New Triway principal settles in, ready for big move
Since he was hired as Triway High School principal in May, Chris Sieber, left, has made it a priority to get to know the community and school's staff and students including high school juniors Anthony Sidle, a Triway FFA member and one of the first students Sieber met on his arrival to Triway, left, Izzy Ball, Kendall Johnson, Matthew Kennedy and Elliott Daley.
While settling into his new position as Triway High School, Principal Chris Sieber is eager to make another move.
Hired in May, Sieber has witnessed the final stages of construction of the One Triway project — a 250,000-square-foot building that will house preschool through 12th grade. Built next door to the current high school, the new school will make Triway Local Schools a one-campus district.
“Sometimes the hands of time move slowly,” Sieber said as he described the anticipation of students and staff to make the move. Fast forward to December and the finish line is in sight.
High school and middle school students will make the transition to the new building through staggered start times after winter break. Wooster and Shreve elementary schools will merge into the new building in fall 2025.
A grand opening ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 19 with a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. and a community open house with self-guided tours from 4:30-7 p.m.
“Everyone is excited,” Sieber said. “As students get inside the building, it’s neat to see the looks on their faces and hear the excitement in their voices when they see what’s coming.”
Before coming to Triway, Sieber served as an assistant principal for 10 years at Wadsworth High School. Early in his career, he taught government and history before becoming a school administrator. He served as assistant principal at Dover and Riverside high schools and Woodridge Middle School.
“I could have retired from Wadsworth,” Sieber said, “but I always wanted to be a principal, and I put it off to be around my kids.”
He and his wife Janice reside in Wadsworth, and when the last of their three children graduated from high school, Sieber decided it was time for a change.
The opportunity to move into the new building was a big draw for the Triway position, along with the community’s size and support of the district.
“When I got here, it just felt good,” Sieber said. “It exceeded every expectation.”
During his 90 days, he concentrated on getting to know the community, school staff and students, he said. “I want to learn as much as I can about them.”
For the first time in his career, he is working at a school where agricultural education is part of the curriculum. The first students he met were from the Triway FFA chapter.
His biggest task, he said, glancing out his office window, “Is making that new building our home.”
He called the design transformational because it will reshape the way teachers deliver instruction and students receive instruction. Classrooms are equipped with garage doors that open to extended work space.
The high school wing does not have typical cafeteria seating. Instead, students will be able to choose from a variety of seating options including booths and high-top tables in different locations. The idea behind the design, he said, is to treat them like adults.
In addition to preparing staff and students to navigate the new building, Sieber also is focused on giving students a great high school experience.
“There’s a lot of pride in this district,” he said. “We have wonderful teachers who care about the students.
"It’s important they be equipped with tools to help their students have an experience that will set them up for success after they graduate."
His biggest hope for students: “That they never stop learning.”