Michael Firch named new assistant principal at Sussex Tech High School

Sussex Technical High School welcomes Michael Firch of Milford as an assistant principal.

The western Pennsylvania native has previously been a counselor in the Milford, Cape Henlopen and Seaford school districts. Firch said he is anxious to listen and understand the philosophy for learning that has been the cornerstone of Sussex Tech’s success.

Firch has served in several administrative capacities for school organizations, such as being a legislative representative for the Delaware School Counselors Association, being the Delaware representative of the National Office of School Counselors Advocacy for College Boards and being a member of the American College Testing Board.

“It has always been my goal to be an administrator, so I have tried to develop my skills as a mediator through my professional associations,” said Firch.

Community service is another area that is important to the new assistant principal.

For 10 years he has participated in bicycling events to support research on AIDS vaccines, multiple sclerosis and cancer. A former athletic scholar at Strong Vincent High School in Erie, Pa., Firch completed the Bicycling Across Alaska fundraiser.

Although Firch does not bicycle for competition, he has a goal of cutting down his time to less than two hours to finish the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, Va., which he and his brother have participated in for the past four years.

He is a Sunday school teacher and is training to be an evangelist lay leader at St. John’s Catholic Church in Milford. Plus, Firch has served on the Delaware and Central Pennsylvania committee for the Hugh O’Brian Youth Foundation.

“I believe volunteerism is the key to a growing community,” said Firch.

Firch earned his BS degree in health education from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and his master of education in secondary school counseling from Wilmington College. He also earned his administrator’s certificate from Wilmington College. He and his wife have three children.

Firch replaces Dr. Kevin Dickerson, who is now director of support services at Sussex Tech.