Hello Cardinal JS/HS Families,

It is my pleasure to introduce myself as the new Principal of Cardinal Jr/Sr High School. My name is Jim Henson, and I am thrilled to be joining the Huskie Team!

I come to Cardinal from Bloomfield High School, where I had the honor of serving as Principal for the past four years. Before entering administration, I spent 16 years teaching science at Jefferson Area—an experience that profoundly shaped my commitment to student learning and growth.

I am truly honored to support the academic and social-emotional needs of our students. When students walk through the doors of Cardinal Jr/Sr High, they are entering a school that values excellence, community, and opportunity. Our dedicated teachers challenge and inspire students with a rigorous curriculum, helping them grow both intellectually and personally.

Beyond the classroom, students have a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities—including athletics, clubs, and after-school programs—that enrich their educational experience and build both school spirit and individual confidence.

At Cardinal, we strive to cultivate lifelong learners who are equipped with the skills and mindset needed for success in college, careers, and beyond. Together—with the support of our families, staff, and community—we can make our school the best place for students to learn, grow, and pursue their dreams.

I look forward to partnering with all of you in the exciting year ahead.

Proud to be a Huskie,

Jim Henson, Cardinal Jr/Sr High School Principal

Hello Cardinal Elementary School Huskies!

I am excited to join the Cardinal Elementary family as the principal of Cardinal Elementary School. I have served as a teacher in both the Euclid and Willoughby-Eastlake School Districts and as an educational leader in North Ridgeville and Fairport School Districts. The accomplishments of the Cardinal Local School District and Cardinal Elementary School are impressive, and I am excited to play a role in the continued success of both the school and the district.

As always, our connection to the community is one of our most important features. I encourage the continued investment in our students by the community and will work to ensure that our school and our community are working together to create the best learning environment for our students. I am very excited for the opportunity to join the Huskie family and am already looking forward to an outstanding 2026-2027 school year.

Proud New Huskie,

Steve Norris, Principal - Cardinal Elementary School

Hello Cardinal Families!

I am excited and honored to begin my first year as the Dean of Students at Cardinal

Jr./Sr. High School. I come to Cardinal after spending the past 14 years as an

Intervention Specialist at Columbiana Middle School. Making the move from the

classroom into administration is an exciting new chapter in my career, and I am grateful

for the opportunity to become part of the Cardinal community.

Throughout my career in education and coaching, I have always believed that

relationships come first. Students need to know that the adults in their school care about

them, but they also need structure, consistency, and accountability. As Dean of

Students, much of my responsibility will center around student discipline and

attendance, but I want my role to be about much more than that. I want our students to

know that my door is open and that I am here to help them become successful both

inside and outside of the classroom.

Athletics and coaching have also been a large part of my life for more than 30 years. I

am fortunate to serve Cardinal as the Head Football Coach in addition to my role as

Dean of Students. Coaching has taught me many lessons about leadership,

perseverance, accountability, and the importance of bringing people together toward a

common goal. Those are lessons that I carry with me into my role as an administrator.

One of the things that attracted me to Cardinal was the opportunity to be part of a close-

knit school and community. I look forward to building relationships with our students,

staff, parents, and community members and doing my part to continue moving Cardinal

forward.

I am proud and excited to be a Huskie and look forward to a great school year!

Proud to be a Huskie,

Doug Velasquez, Cardinal Jr./Sr. High School Dean of Students