Pembroke Pines Charter High School is often recognized for its quality of education, talented sports teams, and its close-knit school environment. Having been an A+ school for years on end, PPCHS does not fall short of excellence. Often taken for granted are the people behind the scenes, working diligently to keep the campus fun and thriving. Most of all, students forget Pines Charter’s biggest cheerleader: our principal, Mr. Bayer.
“It’s almost hard at this point to separate my own life from Charter life because it’s been such a big part of [my life] for the past 25 years,” Mr. Bayer says. 2025 marks his 25th year working at PPCHS. For 23 years, he has served as the school’s principal, overseeing every matter and detail surrounding the school, large or small. Pines Charter, which opened in 2000, has been like a second home, filled with fond memories and bright futures.
Reminiscing on the past two decades at the school, Mr. Bayer recalls one of his favorite memories at Charter. “There are so many memories; there are so many fun things, so many exciting things, so many inspirational things,” he says.
“I know Mr. Quigley and I always talk about the moment we did the anniversary of 9/11. We did a curricular event that ended with the students at the fountain; that was just an incredible moment in the history of our school.” The school was celebrating its first anniversary around the time of the terrorist attack that shocked the nation.
“But then, seeing the students throw their shirts in the tree every year, which was like the original senior prank, to see it take place every year since then is always one of those really incredible moments that are unique to Charter,” he continues. This particular tradition occurs on the last day of seniors’ school year, a sort of send-off to college and other paths.
Over the years, students have passed down and adapted schoolwide traditions, like AP Government’s Constitution Day and seniors’ end-of-year bell ringing. Many of them, if not all, have shaped the culture of PPCHS – one of inclusivity and fun. Each year, these traditions bring the student body together to celebrate the school and each other.
“It’s neat to see [traditions] passed down from generation to generation,” Bayer explains. “I just had a short parent conference this morning with a student’s parents, but the parent went here as a student. It happens more and more these days, when some of our alumni are in their forties now, so their kids are coming up on high school age.”
He also mentioned his love of seeing students enjoying campus and participating in school events. “It makes me happy to see… the students doing projects or out and about, taking pictures of the campus, and doing different activities like Club Fair. It’s nice to see so many kids are interested in clubs because it’s not just a job; they want to be involved in the community.”
A positive school culture and environment are rare, especially in larger, less-connected schools. At Charter, most students know each other and make friends daily. Many schools can be so large or education-oriented that students have small circles or are competitive. PPCHS, however, prioritizes both a healthy social environment as well as high-quality educational opportunities.
“We have great students and great educators, and you give them the tools they need, and you let it happen. Giving them the autonomy and the ownership, I think, always ends better than if I were just trying to control and tell people what to do,” says Bayer. He emphasizes that he can’t take the credit for the supportive atmosphere, other than choosing the right staff.
For students who attended Academic Village Middle (AVM) on the first floor of the U Building, Mr. Bayer has been their principal since the sixth grade, allowing him to watch so many PPCHS students grow up. “They’re… coming in knowing half the kids [already in the high school], so they tend to stick together, I think, in some ways,” he says.
“It speaks to the bond that the campus is able to provide. [The students] build these relationships early on, but they also mix and make friends along the way.”
Over the past 25 years, our principal, Mr. Bayer, has watched thousands of students come and go, emerging from awkward middle school years and leaving as mature, well-rounded adults. Somehow, he still remembers everyone’s name. He always stops to say “hi” to both the quiet students and the social ones. He checks in on the ones who need a pick-me-up or a boost of confidence.
As far as principals go, PPCHS has lucked out with Mr. Bayer. When you see him in the halls, say hello. Remember to recognize the person who has been the very backbone of Pembroke Pines Charter High School for 25 years and counting.
