When Paso Robles High School Assistant Principal Stuart Hamill opened the email notifying him that he had been selected as San Luis Obispo County’s Co Administrator of the Year, his first reaction was disbelief.
“I honestly thought my account had been hacked, I had no idea I’d even been nominated. There are so many amazing administrators across the county. I still feel honored just to be mentioned among them.”
Once the news set in, the surprise turned to gratitude. The award, presented through ACSA Region 13 and the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education, recognizes administrators who demonstrate exceptional leadership, integrity and commitment to students and staff culture. For Hamill, those traits trace back to a career in education that began more than 25 years ago.
Hamill has spent more than two decades in education, beginning his career in 1998 teaching second and fourth grade in Southern California. From there he moved to middle school, where he taught history, PE and leadership before stepping into administration.
His career eventually brought him to Fontana, where he served as a middle school assistant principal before moving with the same group of students to the high school. “I knew a lot of those kids for seven years. It was really special.”
For the past 12 years, Hamill has worked in Paso Robles, with this year marking his sixth at Paso Robles High School.
Hamill’s path to teaching wasn’t always clear. He attended Azusa Pacific University on a football scholarship, majoring in business, but struggled during his first year living away from home.
“I took one semester of accounting and said, ‘not for me’”. When his grades dropped and he lost his scholarship, he left the university and enrolled in junior college.
A summer job as a camp counselor ultimately changed his direction. “That’s where I decided I wanted to be a teacher.”
Hamill returned to APU, earned back his scholarship, and reached his personal goal of hearing his name announced as a starting player in a college football game. He graduated with a Liberal Studies degree and later earned his administrative credential and master’s degree in education.
During college, he also met his wife. The two married young, at ages 21 and 19, and later raised three children together.
When asked to describe his leadership in one word, Hamill didn’t hesitate when he answered, “dependable.”
“I try to have integrity in everything I do, I want people to know me as caring, reliable, empathetic. Someone who can be counted on. I try to be myself all the time. People can see through anything fake.”
That approach shapes how he supports both students and teachers. “I’m not always going to have all the answers, but I’m here to help. I try to treat every student the way I would treat my own kids.”
Hamill said he doesn’t know who nominated him for the award, but he believes Paso Robles has played an important role in his growth.
“I love where I’m at, “Everyone looks good in crimson.”
Though humbled by the recognition, Hamill says he has no plans to leave PRHS anytime soon.
