Being a principal is a massive job, but Scott Lusk (left) and David Cink (right) handle it from every angle.
From guiding elementary students to managing high school operations and teaching College-in-the-Schools (CITS) classes in between, they work every day to keep Cleveland Public Schools a place where students can thrive.
October is National Principals Month, an annual tradition to recognize the essential role school principals play, not only in shaping education but also in the success of each student and teacher.
To celebrate, we asked students to share their experiences with principals Lusk and Cink.
Scott Lusk: elementary principal
Sixth grader Hunter Olson shared how principal Lusk personalizes his support for each elementary student, providing steady guidance when they are navigating pivotal moments.
“He’s always telling us how to do better and not just telling us we’re bad kids,” Olson said. “And he recognizes each of us are our own person; we’re not just all the same.”
With this same care, Mr. Lusk handles conflicts thoughtfully, ensuring fairness for every student involved, Olson said.
“He listens to both sides of the story before he gets to resolving the problem.”
Mr. Lusk’s leadership isn’t always about discipline and problem-solving though; it's also about celebrating good choices. He makes sure student efforts don't go unnoticed, sometimes with simple rewards.
“He lets us stay outside a little longer for recess,” Olson acknowledged.
As Olson winds down his elementary career, it’s Mr. Lusk’s continuous encouragement that stays with him the most.
“He says life is hard, but never give up.”
Beyond guidance, Olson’s classmate Kali Pribyl emphasizes that Mr. Lusk makes students feel genuinely cared for.
“He's nice and helps us.”
While Mr. Lusk is an authority figure, he never stops being relatable, Pribyl said. When asked to describe him in a single word, she immediately chose “funny,” pointing to a memorable moment during secret teacher dress-up days last year, when Mr. Lusk surprised the school by wearing a wig, as a big reason students feel lucky to have him as a principal.
Sixth-grader Benjamin Zimmerman shared how Mr. Lusk constantly steps in to keep students motivated and focused on using all of their abilities.
“He is always coming into our classroom and telling us that we are doing a good job and reminding us to always do our best,” Zimmerman said.
But Lusk’s dedicated support isn't just in the classroom; he creates memories that make students feel truly valued. Zimmerman fondly recalled earning a prize ticket in early elementary school meant for spending part of an hour with the principal. Instead of the allotted time though, it into a longer and more valuable experience for the young student.
“It was only supposed to be 20 minutes, but Mr. Lusk let me stay with him for the whole day,” Zimmerman remembered. “It was a fun day getting to spend time with the principal all day.”
Lusk consistently instills a strong work ethic in his students, telling them simple yet powerful advice:
“Always try your hardest and try to succeed,” Zimmerman shared as the biggest lesson he’s learned.
It’s this genuine care and positive energy that makes Mr. Lusk such an essential part of the school community. Zimmerman believes the entire district is fortunate to have him leading the elementary school, describing him in one word as “awesome.”
“Whenever a kid sees him in the hallway or anywhere, their faces light up, and they give him a high five because everyone likes to be around him,” Zimmerman recognized. “He has a passion for helping kids be better students.”
David Cink: high school principal
High school students see Mr. Cink not only managing everyday operations as principal but also leading the classroom directly as a CITS teacher for both the junior and senior classes. Having these multiple roles gives students a unique connection to their principal.
When asked why our district is lucky to have him, senior Carson Lyons said it came down to Mr. Cink wanting the students to always do their best.
“I think the school is so blessed to have Mr. Cink because he’s so understanding and shows us tough love. He demands a lot from all of us students, but he won’t ask for anything more than your best. He truly cares about our success as individuals and as a school.”
If Lyons had to sum Mr. Cink up in a single phrase, he described him simply as "old-school."
That high standard translates directly into his CITS classroom, where students gain real-life advice alongside their traditional lessons. When asked about learning from their principal, Lyons’ classmate Kaitlyn Flowers said Cink’s own experiences make the class material more memorable.
“The best part about having Mr. Cink as a teacher is not only hearing what he has to say as a teacher but also learning more about him as an individual. He brings up something new every day that makes me think, ‘I have never thought about it that way before.’”
Out of all the lessons he shares in class, one particular message Flowers specifically remembers:
“Mr. Cink has taught me a lot of things that are valuable in everyday life, but one that sticks out to me is that the only person who really can hold you accountable is yourself.”
That dedication to his students is obvious when you enter the classroom. Senior Delaney Thompson noted how easy it is to understand how deeply he cares.
“I can tell Mr. Cink wants his students to succeed by the way he jumps around the classroom, giving us advice that will not only help us thrive at school but also someday in the real world. He is an expert in what he teaches and can explain it in a way that makes sense to everyone.”
And even with high expectations, Mr. Cink keeps the environment engaging, Thompson points out, often making the whole room laugh with his famously "state-of-the-art" whiteboard drawings.
Adding to those classroom experiences, senior Caleb Connor has known Mr. Cink as both a principal and his CITS teacher over the last two years, describing him as a truly motivating figure in the building.
“I believe Mr. Cink is a very inspirational leader,” Connor shared. “He inspires us to be the best versions of ourselves.”
For Connor, Cink’s impact extends far beyond high school; it’s about preparing students for life beyond the school’s four walls.
“Cleveland is so lucky to have Mr. Cink as a principal,” Connor added. “Not only does he make us good students, but he also helps prepare us for the future. When he is teaching or being a principal, I believe he thinks about how he can make us as individuals better people.”
Cink's real-world perspective makes his wisdom something Connor has picked up from him in class and around the school.
“Something I’ve learned from him is to treat everything like your boss is watching,” Connor remembered. “Partly because you never know when someone might be watching, but also because it is the right thing to do.”
Ultimately, Cink’s guidance helps students approach challenges with open minds and maturity.
“He has inspired me to always try and see both sides of a situation,” Connor recognized. “In class, we’ve learned a lot about there always being two sides to everything, so don’t always think you’re right.”
While students we talked to openly shared their experiences with Mr. Cink and Mr. Lusk, whether you are a student, teacher, parent or simply a member of the Cleveland community, during National Principals month, please take a moment to think about how your principals have made a positive difference in your life.