Lopez Island School District - Home of the Lobos

Grades 6-12Marc Vermeire Principal

Marc Vermeire joins the Lopez School District in 2009 as the new secondary school principal and science teacher, a position he likes to call “lead educator.” He held a similar job for the past 10 years at Friday Harbor High School, where he most recently taught high school science and served as vice principal. “Being a teaching administrator allows the student/principal relationship to flourish,” he says. “It’s more dynamic when students see their principal as an educator.”

His fascination with the ocean began as a child in the Midwest, where his father was a middle school science teacher, and then led him to Taiwan to pursue a master’s degree in marine biology. He later moved to Friday Harbor to work at the University of Washington’s research lab. He began sharing his passion with young people 11 years ago as a science teacher at Friday Harbor High School.

Marc Vermeire’s teaching philosophy is that students will rise to the occasion if teachers show dedication, perseverance and hard work.  “I aim to bring an open mind, a positive attitude, and high expectations to the school each day,” he says. “I believe that I owe it to our students, as well as the community, to bring consistency, diligence, and warmth to my job in the hope that I can ultimately inspire and encourage such traits in the students as well.”

This year, he is excited to introduce Lopez High School students to their first University in the High School course, a five-credit oceanography class that is taught to University of Washington standards and gives students the opportunity for college credit.