Christopher Fields is the principal of Valparaiso’s very own Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Fields has been working in public education for 20 years and has been the principal at Benjamin Franklin for ten years now.
He began his journey at Wabash College where he received a degree in Chemistry. From there, he moved on to his Master's Degree in Chemistry Education at Purdue University.
Before turning his studies toward Chemistry Education, he became interested in teaching while working as a Chemistry Outreach Coordinator and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for Purdue while trying to get his Master's to go into veterinary school. He found that he really enjoyed teaching and decided to pursue his teaching license.
Field’s parents were both educators. “I’ve always looked to them as being engaged in a noble profession,” said Fields.
Before coming to Benjamin Franklin Middle School, he was the Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Kouts Middle School and before that a chemistry teacher and girls cross country and track coach at Merrillville High School.
Fields started off at Benjamin Franklin as the Assistant Principal in 2007 and has enjoyed every day since. “This has been an absolutely wonderful environment to come to everyday,” said Fields. “It’s not work, it’s a passion.”
He was inspired to become a principal while working at Merrillville High School with Principal Dusty Rhode. “I respected him tremendously,” he said. “He really inspired me and encouraged me to do that.”
Fields says that "middle school" is a very important time in a kid’s life; they are very impressionable. Fields says that the teachers and staff at Benjamin Franklin have such a critical role.
“It’s an exploratory time," said Fields. This is the time in their lives where priorities change, and things become difficult for students. Fields says that it’s the school’s job to help students find their spark, find something they like or want to do.
Benjamin Franklin Middle School “truly is a special place,” said Fields. “We are a very prideful group of people. We are really passionate about that adolescent child.”
Being around middle school kids all day long, Fields was asked what people most often misunderstand about middle school aged kids.
“Middle Schoolers are full tilt and 110 mph regardless of what they do,” said Fields. “They are very malleable, very impressionable.” He continued to say that it’s best to “tap into that and continue to fuel them and encourage them and support them.”
When asked what kind of principal he is, Fields said that he is ‘old school’.
“It’s all about respect. We have to respect each other and other people’s property.”
Fields wants to be known as an encourager and supporter of the kids. He says that his measure of success is when he sees that kids are accomplishing academic success and taking advantage of extracurricular activities and classes.
His favorite part about working with middle schoolers is, “Seeing the changes that happen from a 6th grader to an 8th grader.”
The month of May is his favorite time of the year because he gets to see incoming 5th graders come into the school and visit, and he gets to see the 8th graders get ready to move on to high school.
Outside of BFMS, Fields likes to spend time with his wife, Christan, who is a Valparaiso High School Biology Teacher, and his three daughters, two of whom are currently attending BFMS.
Though his daughters may not always appreciate his presence at their school, Fields really enjoys having them there.
“It’s rewarding to me, because if I’m having a bad day, seeing one of my daughters and interacting with them in the hallway boosts my day,” he said.
Fields and his family love to camp as much as they can. Family is very important to him. He often spends time with his extended family. However, life revolves around his three daughters who are in 6th, 8th and 11th grade. He says that he and his wife often find themselves at the whim of their children, because of all the sports and academic programs his daughters are involved with.
As educators, Fields and his wife also like to engage with other students by attending other games and activities within the school to support the students there.
“It’s an exceptional place for that middle school learner. Because it’s filled with a group of people who are passionate about that age,” Fields said in regards to BFMS. “It’s about opportunities and exploring interests.”