As the new 2025-2026 school year starts, there are many new staff in the building joining the Rocky community, which means big changes to school. Dr. Patty Ulrich is the new principal this year. Mrs. Hartzler has been an Assistant Principal at Rocky since 2023. That being said, she has been able to see the real change before and after the effect of new staff and changes.
While Dr. Ulrich is the new Principal this school year, she has been in education for 24 years now. She was brought in by looking for a principal job in multiple schools, but focused on a school around here in IL, and she thought Rocky was the best fit for her. “My husband was my inspiration to be a principal,” Dr. Ulrich said. He was there to push her to be better and do something new, as she mentioned. The principal job is not only new to her, but the state is, too. Dr. Ulrich is from St. Louis, Missouri. The rules and laws through the district and state are very different in the schools, and it can take awhile to get used to, as she also said. She has also taught for 12 years prior, as well. She has been interested in drama, and also social work. as she has a masters degree in social work. She has taught at the middle school level and high school. She has enjoyed most of her teaching with high school students. She wants to be able to have an impact on students’ lives.
As to Mrs. Hartzler, she has been in education since 2009, starting her education by teaching middle school at Washington junior high school. “I moved to the high school in 2013 as the Freshman Academic Advisor. In 2014, I moved to Rock Island High School Dean of Students, and in 2023, I moved to RIHS Assistant Principal,” Mrs. Hartzler states. Rock Island has been the only district she has been in, so she knows the pride of Rocky and has been able to see the changes and improvements through the years,” she states.
In effect, everyone has been seeing or heard of all the changes to come in the new school year. For example, the phone and ID policy is very strict this year. But a huge one that is in effect that can help many students is the optional final, if you meet all requirements. This is new to everyone, and can be a huge change and effect on everyone, students as well as teachers. But all of those changes are to improve the school, like making sure students are on track and there is less drama between students is why the phone policy is more stern this year, as well as the final rule. Taking finals can make or break your grade for many students, which is why it can help improve, because if your grade is good, and you take your final and do badly, it can affect your grade. But, you have to meet so many requirements, such as no ISS or OSS and more. But from over the years, there have been so many other changes, and Mrs. Hartzler has been able to see way more than just some of the ones going into effect this year. She said ,“Since starting in education, I think one of the biggest changes has been the increased focus on safety and security. The Evolv system has been one of the biggest changes that impacts students and staff each day.”
One task Dr. Ulrich and the staff at Rocky are really focused this year on the school’s culture and climate, meaning she wants the students and staff to enjoy coming to school and have a positive environment they can come to and be in. She wants to make sure it’s student centered, “Focused on the whole child,” as Dr. Ulrich said.
To add on, Mrs. Hartzler’s goals for this year are, “Continuing to improve the educational experience and outcomes of all students. I want every student to enjoy their time here at RIHS and leave prepared for success,” she says. This could really help the school and prepare the students for more and the better.
There is a huge academic focus on making sure every student has the right tools to be successful, which could be making sure students are taking the right classes. Everyone has the same access and opportunities, as well as leading Rocky on the pathway of making sure everyone is ready for what they have in store for themselves when they graduate high school. She is here to help students and support what they want and need. “I don’t settle for anything but excellence,” said Dr. Patty Ulrich
Overall, this year there are major changes that affect everyone in their own ways, but all for the sake of students and the school community. Dr. Ulrich and. Mrs. Hartzler and all the staff at Rocky are here to support and improve Rock Island High School, and make sure every student has the same opportunities as everyone else when it comes to leaving and moving on after high school, and keeping Rocky’s pride strong.
