Dr. Henry is visible and attentive to the needs of his school
community. Dr. Henry's skills as an instructional leader include building strong relationships,
collaborating, and making critical decisions. Along with his leadership expertise, he is also
knowledgeable about the organization's operational functions."
Mrs. Kay Fields, Polk County Member, District 5
"Dr. Henry always listens to and weighs all perspectives from educational stakeholders. In my position, his approach is of utmost importance because he has not forgotten the classroom and instructional viewpoint. To move student achievement, an effective leader must listen to the staff closest to our students. He is consistent and thoughtful in including me as union president while he walks classrooms in his schools to evaluate new program and curriculum implementation, talk through areas of improvement, and celebrate student and staff progress."
Stephanie Yocum- President, Polk Education Association
"The ability to communicate with his stakeholders was one of the skills I immediately noticed about
Dr. Ben Henry. Dr. Henry earns the respect of students and parents with his open, honest
communication style. Having someone who can calm a school community in a crisis is often
essential, and this skill set is extremely valuable. Dr. Henry's efforts have helped the Office of Safe
Schools identify and resolve problems in the communities we serve. We have developed a positive
relationship with our school community and as a result has ultimately had a positive impact on the
communities we serve as a whole."
Major Jill Seymour, Polk County Sheriff's Office of Safe Schools