Meet the Principal

Chad Hissong 

Mr. Hissong graduated from Ball State University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) in Secondary Education and English. He spent the first 8 years of his career teaching middle school/junior high school English, and coaching football and wrestling at Hamilton Southeastern Middle School and Hamilton Southeastern Junior High School.  

He completed his Masters of Arts in Education degree (MAE) in Educational Leadership in 1996 and began his administrative career as Dean of Students at Hamilton Southeastern High School.

In 1999, Mr. Hissong and his family returned to the Fort Wayne area when he accepted a position as Assistant Principal (AP) at North Adams Community Schools. After serving as an AP for one year at Bellmont High School, he accepted a position as an AP in East Allen County Schools where he subsequently spent the next 10 years serving as an AP at Heritage Junior/Senior High School, Leo Junior/Senior High School, and Prince Chapman Academy.

After completing his Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.) at Indiana University, he accepted his first position with Fort Wayne Community Schools as Principal of the now closed Elmhurst High School.  

In 2010, Mr. Hissong was assigned as the tenth Principal of North Side High School, a school that had been placed on the State of Indiana Department of Education takeover list as a result of its previous poor academic performance. During his tenure at North Side, the school maintained a school grade of C, including his first year at North Side, and therefore removing the school from the IDOE takeover list.

After 6 years as Principal of North Side HS, Mr. Hissong accepted the challenge of being the first Director of the FWCS Family & Community Engagement Center (FACE). In his role as Director, he supported the Chief Officer of the FACE Center in overseeing Community Programs, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Recruitment and Retention, Homeless Assistance, Alternative Programs, College and Career Readiness, Student Placement, and the Parkview Health Clinic. He also oversaw the FWCS Athletic Programs and Directors, managed the Student Learning Advocates, and provided professional learning and support to Case Managers and Administrative Assistants.

In the spring of 2018, he was selected to become the seventh Principal at R. Nelson Snider High School. Since his arrival, he created the Snider High School Spirit Squad which works in conjunction with the Snider High School Student Council to focus on the emotional and social well-being of all students. Mr. Hissong's presence extends beyond the normal school day as he is visible at variety of extra and co-curricular events supporting the Snider High School Family.

The Spirit Squad and Student Council have successfully hosted a multitude of tailgate events, coordinated multiple spirit weeks for students and staff, coordinated a teacher award day, created the lunch time senior lounge, planned for the reinvention of the Snider courtyard, initiating advisor/advisee time, implementing club-based activities and organizations that are focused on students, as well as, planning their last official senior day at Snider High School.

He has been married to his wife of 34 years, Suzanne, and has three wonderful and beautiful children, Alexandria (31), Chase (25), and MaryKate (22).