Principal Appreciation Month: Amanda Baron: North River Future Ready Center
October 26, 2026 –Helping students see their potential is at the heart of what Amanda Baron does daily as the principal of the North River Future Ready Center. At NRFRC, students from four different Hamilton County schools are able to further explore career pathways through hands-on learning in fields that range from welding, automotive technology, veterinary science, health care, agricultural science, and cosmetology. Since Baron joined the center in 2024, enrollment has grown from around 200 students to more than 530, creating opportunities for even more students to explore their interests and prepare for their careers after graduation. “I really get the privilege to watch students discover what they’re actually capable of,” Baron said.
Now, in her 16th year in education and 10th year with Hamilton County Schools, Baron understands the importance of finding a path that feels right for each student. As a first-generation college student, she initially studied environmental science and biology before realizing that working in a laboratory was not where she wanted to spend the rest of her career. “I wanted to share biology and science knowledge and why I was excited about the subject area,” she said. That desire to share her knowledge with others led her to the classroom and eventually into school leadership, though becoming a principal was not something she originally planned. Baron credits her former mentor, Elaine Harper, with recognizing her potential and encouraging her to take on leadership opportunities. In her own words,
“Sometimes it’s nice when you don’t see it in yourself, if somebody else sees it and pushes you in that direction where they know you’re supposed to be.”
That belief in others is something Baron brings to her role at North River every day. She wants every student to feel “seen and challenged, as well as connected, to that future career or college pathway.” Through hands-on learning, students have the opportunity to explore their interests while building skills they can carry with them beyond high school. Whether they decide to enter the workforce, attend a technical or vocational college program like TCAT, or pursue a four-year degree, Baron wants them to leave North River prepared for whatever comes their way.
One of her favorite parts of the job is seeing students grow more confident in their chosen pathways. She shared one example of how some students begin in the automotive program, nervous at first, but eventually are able to work their way up to working on actual customer vehicles, rotating tires, and even repairing brakes. She sees similar growth in the welding program, where students are eager to show off their work and explain what they have learned. Although welding was unfamiliar to Baron when she joined the center, she enjoys seeing students take pride in their skills. “I have known nothing about welding,” she said with a laugh, describing how students bring her their samples and point out the details they are proud of. Even if she doesn’t understand the exact lingo, watching students become confident enough to share their knowledge and talk about their career interests is one of the things that makes her job so rewarding.
North River also allows eighth graders the opportunity to explore career pathways before deciding what they want to pursue in high school. During “experience days”, students select their top three pathways and get to try activities in those areas, whether that means building a birdhouse in construction or exploring cosmetology. The goal is to give students a better understanding of what each pathway offers and help them discover interests they may not have considered before. For Baron, seeing those discoveries happen is especially rewarding. She loves seeing young people discover ‘Oh, I’m interested in this now. And I didn’t even know it before.’
As the North River Future Ready Center continues to grow, Baron and her team are working to expand opportunities for students across the district. The center recently launched the Erlanger Future Ready Institute of Future Healthcare Professionals, which received more than 55 applications for 25 available spots. Baron hopes to continue building on that growth – with a goal of serving 800 students within the next four years.
While she is proud of the center’s growth, Baron also recognizes the importance of building relationships and creating a supportive environment for students and staff. She wants students to know that she cares about them and believes they can succeed, even when they are nervous about trying something new. She has also enjoyed watching her staff embrace new ways of teaching and give students more opportunities to apply what they learn. When asked what advice she would give someone interested in becoming a principal, Baron emphasized the importance of listening, building relationships, and continuing to learn. “You’ve got to start off with listening and building relationships, and you’ve got to be ready to be learning all the time,” she said.
Helping students find their way is a big part of what Baron loves about her job, and it’s one of the reasons we’re celebrating her during Principal Appreciation Month.
