Fuga finds his joy in education by making a difference in the lives of his students and staff. A 23-year educator who has gone from teacher to assistant principal, to principal and now founding principal for North Oak Academy, Fuga also earned a "Principal of the Year" award in 2018.
“I know I must model the expectation I have for my staff,” he said. “I have to show the joy that I have. I love and enjoy what I do. I build relationships. I get to know all the kids. That is my superpower: No matter how big the school is, I know every kid by name.”
Fuga is big on culture and understands a positive school culture helps everyone perform better.
“It starts with a safe, warm, welcoming environment and a place where they can find joy in learning. Schools are for learning, but I think the byproduct of culture is student and staff success. If you have the right safe, warm, welcoming culture at a school, students will excel.”
Having spent time leading schools in Durham, Fuga said his desire is to create a school where families feel connected, safe, and challenged.
“What I want is for us to build a space in East Durham that students and families look to as a safe haven, a space where they know what the expectation is, and it's a high expectation,” he said.
Fuga earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, and his master’s degree and doctorate in educational leadership from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Quick facts:
- Fuga played Division 3 basketball for Washington and Jefferson College but opted out of his senior season so he could focus on student teaching.
- An avid golfer, Fuga gets on the course whenever he can for enjoyable rounds with his wife and children.
- He’s a big lover of card and board games.
- He was featured in a pilot episode of “Trauma: Life in the E.R.” on The Learning Channel when he was 14 after being hit by a car.
Check out a school near you!
About North Oak Academy
North Oak Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Durham, North Carolina, serving students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 68,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
Visit North Oak Academy's blog to read more stories like this.