Michael Hombach, the new Assistant Principal at OHS, did not plan on going into the education field while he was a student at Elizabethtown College. After he graduated, he went on to earn his Master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland. He then got a job at a community mental health clinic, where he worked for a few years before getting a job with the school system.

“I have a pretty non-traditional career path, but it’s always involved people,” Hombach described when talking about his journey into the education field.

In high school, Hombach was a member of both the cross country and baseball teams. He also continued running in college at Elizabethtown.

“[I try to attend] as many [sporting events] as I can. As administrators, we divide them up,” he explained.

Hombach also mentioned that he is looking forward to the upcoming OHS production of Shrek the Musical.

While this is his  first year at Oakdale, it is his 17th year working with the school system. Hombach worked at Lewistown Elementary as a Pupil Personnel Worker, working with students who had trouble attending school and those who had certain limiting health issues which restricted their abilities to attend school. After leaving Lewistown, he worked in the central office, spending much of his time at Linganore and Gov. Thomas Johnson High Schools in the administration department.

Before coming to OHS, Hombach worked at Tuscarora High School as the Assistant Principal.

“There are a lot of similarities,” Hombach asserted. “I’ve been in most of the high schools, and they’re all busy, but in different ways.”

Although Hombach has loved his time here so far at OHS, he does not love all of the construction going on around the school. He added that it is even difficult for him to commute from his home in Walkersville without getting caught up in any traffic.

His favorite part of working at OHS is the interaction with the students.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the people. It’s been great to work with so many different students who are achieving things at such high levels, both academically and athletically,” he remarked.

Mr. Hombach has been a great addition to the already phenomenal administration team at OHS. We hope that he is enjoying his time here at OHS and will be around for years to come!