School Principal Stocks Shelves At Night & Inspires With His Mission

Sep 05, 2022 by apost team

A high school principal has continued to go above and beyond to set a great example for his peers and his students. Henry Darby is the principal at North Charleston High School in North Charleston, South Carolina. His job is busy and demanding, but that hasn’t stopped Darby from picking up a second job to help make some extra money. Rather than pocket it himself, every dime of Darby’s hard-earned paycheck from his second job goes to his students in need.

Picking up the graveyard shift stocking shelves at Walmart, Darby has been able to earn some extra cash to help his students since the majority of the student body at his high school lives under the poverty line. Despite taking on so many different responsibilities and doing so much more than is expected of him, Darby has remained humble. In fact, he typically isn’t one to seek affirmation or accolades from others. He stayed quiet about his second source of income, truly showing that he was doing it out of the goodness of his heart. It’s clear that Darby cares deeply for his students.

Eventually, people found out that he was juggling two jobs and doing as much as he possibly could to help his students. When word got out, an outpouring of appreciation was sent to Darby, so much so that even news outlets and Walmart got involved in highlighting his good deeds. In January 2021, Walmart decided that it was finally time to give back to the principal who has given so much to his students.

Continuing To Help The Students

TODAY reported that 90% of the student body at North Charleston High School live under the poverty line, making Darby’s efforts that much more meaningful. Darby kept quiet about juggling two jobs, but eventually, word got out. However, the principal felt that he wasn’t “worthy of distinction to warrant the attention” he received once people heard about his second job at Walmart. 

“Even before we knew, there was something special about him,” Walmart store manager Cynthia Solomon said. “I would be so happy to have Mr. Darby for as long as he will have us as a part of his family and beyond.” In January 2021, Walmart did its part to help Darby’s students. The high school principal received a $50,000 check from the company to go toward helping his students in need. “You’re awesome and we appreciate you here at Walmart for all you are doing to serve your community,” Solomon said as she handed him the check. 

Darby was completely taken aback and emotional by the entire situation. “Thank you so very much,” he said. “This is going to go a very, very long way with our students.” Darby raved about just how amazing his students are. “These students, they are the best of the best,” he said. “We love them dearly.” 

According to TODAY, the principal has no plans to leave his second job at Walmart. The principal has continued to encourage others to always be kind. “Just learn to help others,” he said. “That is one of the greatest things we could do in terms of human beings.”

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Local newspaper, The Post and Courier, revealed that Darby's strong work ethic is something he's had his whole life. When he was just 6 years old he and his mother visited elderly living communities where he learned how to comb and braid the hair of residents. Then as a teenager, Darby worked three or four jobs at a time — something he continued doing, even after becoming school principal of North Charleston High in 2017. In 2004 he was also elected to the County Council and was reelected in 2020. He revealed:

“Because of my work ethic, this is nothing new to me ... This is just a part of my lifestyle.”

Elizabeth Bowens, North Charleston High's parent advocate administrator said:

“His heart is so big. This is his community. He’s grown up here, he still lives here. These kids are like his kids."

It turns out one of the reasons Darby is so willing to give back is because he's experienced the rallying together of community in his life too. After his father passed away when he was just 3 years old, the members of his local church put their money together to buy him a suit. Then, when Darby was 17 and his mother died, his aunt, uncle and cousins banded together to help him. He explained:

“I can say that people really helped me to get to where I am today."

Darby's awareness of how important community is has led him to help others in need as well as inspire people to get more involved. He added:

“I wish that those of us who are born of poverty and we had to struggle and we made it to at least the lower middle class, that we will look back to help others."

What did you think about this heartwarming story about a principal going above and beyond to help his students in need? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to your friends and family members, too.