Meet SunRidge Elementary’s new dean: Stephen Morsher

After spending five years in a high-school band room, Stephen Morsher is excited to impact and inspire younger students as SunRidge Elementary School’s new dean of students. 

Morsher began the new phase in his career as an educator at SunRidge Elementary about two weeks ago. As dean of students, Morsher finds ways school faculty and staff can help students discover the best possible way to interact with their school community. 

Basically, he helps them find their niche. 

Morsher comes to Sunridge Elementary from Pointe High School in Kissimmee. There, he taught band for five years after moving from Ohio in 2014. 

Although he was teaching music, Morsher found he was already doing something he was passionate about: assisting in student development. 

“I got to see them and help them develop from these freshmen all the way up to these adults walking across the graduation stage and I think, for me, that was the coolest thing,” Morsher said. “To find a position where I can focus in on that and that’s my sole responsibility, but also do it in a location where the students are much younger so we can start those foundational processes a lot sooner to better serve the students … I think is why it’s such a good fit for me.”

Last year, Morsher decided to go back to school and pursue his master’s degree in educational leadership. 

Morsher said the best part of his new job is the ability to focus on developing behavioral skills and characteristics at the beginning of students’ educational careers. In high school, a lot of those foundations for students were already set. 

“Anything that I can do to get them set up for the next 12 years in the public school system, I think, is really cool,” he said. 

Having just stepped out of the classroom himself, Morsher said he realizes the effects that teachers can have on students. One of his goals is to be as effective as possible in his role and in supporting the teachers. 

“For our students — looking at the background a lot of them are coming from these days — your heart just breaks,” Morsher said. “I want to be there, be a listening ear and try to help guide them in the right direction.”

Although he previously worked in Osceola County, Morsher is looking forward to learning the differences of a new school and seeing new perspectives in Orange County Public Schools. 

“I’m looking forward to getting established at the school and being able to build those relationships with our teachers and students and basically helping to facilitate as much growth as I can,” Morsher said. 

He may not be teaching band anymore, but Morsher said he still teaches music on the side. As a band student, he played percussion, but as a teacher he learned to play — on some level — every instrument his students played. He said music is still a part of his life, and he’s only shifted his focus to something new, something he’s just as passionate about. 

“It’s only been two weeks, but the staff is super welcoming,” Morsher said. “I have a great principal to work with. Ms. Gorberg is outstanding, and I’m really excited to learn the ropes from her. … I’m excited for a good year.”