Principal's Letter to Families

I hope you and your family are enjoying a wonderful summer! As we prepare for the start of another school year, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share how excited I am to serve as the new Principal of National Trail High School.

My name is Jeff Schmidt, and I am truly honored to have the opportunity to lead a school and community that have meant so much to me throughout my life. This is a full-circle moment for me. I was once a student walking these same hallways, and my educational career also began here.

While finishing my degree, I substitute taught throughout Preble County and had the privilege of joining the National Trail family as a kindergarten paraprofessional. I later worked at the high school as the APEX instructor while also serving as an assistant football coach. The relationships I built during that time have stayed with me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to return home and continue serving this incredible community.

My teaching career has taken me to Richmond High School, Milton-Union High School, and Tri-County North Middle School, where I taught history and worked with students in a variety of settings. During that time, I earned my master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Dayton and pursued my goal of becoming a school administrator. Most recently, I served as Assistant Principal at Greenville High School. When the opportunity to return to National Trail presented itself, I knew it was where I wanted to be.

My wife, Lindsey, and I live just outside of Eaton on our small farm with our three children, who are all proud future Blazers: Lily, who will be in seventh grade, and twins Luke and Jase, who will be entering fourth grade. Like many of you, we are excited to see our children grow, learn, and succeed in our schools.

As your principal, my commitment is simple: to create a school where every student feels welcomed, supported, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential. I believe that strong relationships between school and home are essential to student success, and I look forward to partnering with you throughout the school year. Together, we can ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

Our staff has been working hard to prepare for an outstanding school year, and I cannot wait to welcome our students back into the building. There is so much to be excited about, and I look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of our students and school community together.

Please know that my door is always open. If you have questions, concerns, or simply want to introduce yourself, I encourage you to reach out. You can contact me at (937) 437-3333 ext 1201, or stop by the high school office.

Thank you for your continued support of National Trail High School. I look forward to meeting each of you and working together to make the 2026–2027 school year an exceptional one.

It's BETTER to be a BLAZER!

Sincerely,

Jeff Schmidt
Principal
National Trail High School