Slate Valley is pleased to announce that Ben Worthing has been selected as the new principal of Fair Haven Union High School (FHUHS) for the 2021-2022 school year. The Slate Valley Unified Union School Board appointed Worthing to the position at its regular meeting, March 22.
“We are very excited to have Ben assume the role as Fair Haven Union High School principal,” said Brooke Olsen-Farrell, superintendent. “He has devoted his career to the Slate Valley community and is an excellent fit.”
Worthing began his career in Slate Valley at Fair Haven Union High School in 2000 as an instructional assistant and later a special education case manager. From 2003-2020, he taught science at the high school and was twice awarded the Teacher of the Year recognition, and once the UVM Teacher of the Year.
After teaching at FHUHS for 20 years, Worthing took on the position of assistant principal at the Castleton Elementary and Village Schools for the 2020-2021 school year.
“I am thrilled to be coming back to Fair Haven in this new position,” said Worthing. “I feel very connected with the students, staff, families, and community as a whole. There are a lot of strengths at Fair Haven that I hope to build upon. I am also very cognizant of the needs and challenges that require our attention, especially in regard to the demands Covid has created over the past year.”
Originally from Owego, New York, Worthing is married with three children.One is currently a senior at FHUHS and another is planning to attend as a freshman next year. In addition to his career in Slate Valley, Worthing has worked as an adjunct professor at Green Mountain College and Castleton University (in a summer program for teacher development) and served as a volunteer for Special Olympics.
“As a leader, I feel I am able to bring the strengths I developed as a teacher: high expectations for all learners with a focus on empathy-building and social/emotional wellbeing,” said Worthing.
“I know these ideals match with the Slater Nation philosophy. I am excited to build upon the long traditions held at Fair Haven Union High School while also working hard to build new connections and new traditions that continually re-energize our Slater community,” Wothing added.
