Dinuba High proudly introduces its new Vice Principal, Mr. Halstead. Since 2017, he has been part of DHS as a counselor, helping students find their path to success. This year, he steps into a new role where he hopes to make an even bigger impact.
Halstead admits that he never planned to stay a counselor forever. “Honestly, I didn’t want to be a counselor for the rest of my life. I thought this was another way to help, especially students who are about to be suspended. Hopefully they learn from their one suspension and then come back from that, and they are more motivated to do better, to act better,” he said. It is this drive to reach students at turning points that pushed him toward leadership.
Education has always been a part of Halstead’s life. His mother worked as a teacher for 25 years, and he credits both her and his own high school counselor for showing him the value of second chances. He also remembers the encouragement of his late friend, Mr. Gill, who pushed him to pursue a career in counseling. That encouragement, he admits, was the best advice he followed.
As a counselor, Halstead became known for helping students who weren’t sure they could succeed. He loved showing them that their goals were possible. Now, as Vice Principal, his counseling background helps him connect with students who land in his office after a bad decision. He sees these moments not just as discipline but as opportunities to guide them back on track.
Looking ahead, Halstead has three main goals: help the science department raise test scores, open a PBIS store where students can spend their Emp Tokens, and put up signs around campus with the school’s values of excellence, maturity, perseverance, and safety. These goals, he believes, will strengthen both academics and school culture.
The advice he wants to share with DHS students: Don’t hold back. “Take responsibility for your education and learning because no one is going to push you as hard as you can push yourself. Always try to learn. Be a lifelong learner,” he said.
Of course, Halstead’s personality also shines through in the lighter moments. After years of commuting from Fresno to Dinuba, he joked, “I have driven halfway to the moon.” He also laughed about his own high school favorites: welding and Spanish. Welding, he admits, might not have become his career, but it’s a hobby he remembers fondly.
From his humor to his dedication, Mr. Halstead brings both heart and vision to Dinuba High. The school proudly welcomes him into this new role, confident that he will continue to make a difference.