Strong Leadership Guides Success in North Carolina Middle School School Science News for Kids

Strong Leadership Guides Success in North Carolina Middle School

Posted by Benjamin Pelloe on June 23, 2011 Leave a comment (0) Go to comments

Strong Leadership Guides Success in North Carolina Middle School
by Marian Kisch

Five years ago Central Middle School in Gatesville, N.C., was a school in distress. Test scores were low. Kids misbehaved on a regular basis. Teacher morale was low as evidenced in high absenteeism and turnover. And public perception about the school had changed from that of a good neighborhood school to a poor one.

But Central is a new school, thanks in large part to new leadership and adoption of new tactics, some based on the HOPE Foundation’s principles For the first time in five years, the school made Adequate Yearly Progress , teacher morale improved and the students are behaving better and achieving more.

How did this happen? A combination of forces, guided by strong school leadership. From 2005-2009 three different principals were at the helm of this 460-student middle school. Then Earl Norfleet was asked to come out of retirement to take over the top spot on an interim basis. Together with then assistant principal Monique Hicks, who took over as interim in April 2010 and as principal this past July, they made some big changes.

Most middle schools use a computerized program to develop student schedules. But Central wanted more control so they hand scheduled the students’ programs, to better match students and teachers. In this way, they were able to take into account personalities, discipline problems and academic levels. Students with discipline problems were separated. The strongest teachers were assigned to the highest need students for instructional purposes.

And it has made a difference, as evidenced by the school making AYP in 2010 and in the better results on state tests. Scores in 2009-2010 were 10% higher in math than the previous year, and 12.5% higher in reading. In addition, discipline referrals were down by 5%.

Another major step was the weeding out of weak teachers, both in terms of effectiveness and attitude. Those without tenure had to go through a rehiring process because of a state mandate related to budget cuts. That gave the school more flexibility.

According to Hicks, “There was a whole different atmosphere in the school, a no-nonsense atmosphere.”

When Hicks was officially named principal in July 2010 she started to make changes, based in part on data gleaned from the states’ annual Teacher Working Conditions Survey to identify staff concerns regarding such things as leadership, school improvement plans and finances.

“I knew we needed to be unified as a school, to show the world we’re back on top, that we’re one of the best schools and have pride in our school and our kids.”

They showed off this pride last fall at the opening day school county meetings when all Central staff wore T-shirts with HOPE’s mantra, Failure Is Not an Option , on the back. That is now the stated mission of Central Middle School.

“This made a big statement, that we are proud to work in Central Middle School,,” the principal says. “We looked like we were all on the same page, and we were.”

Hicks also introduced some of HOPE’s principles, starting with professional learning communities . State professional development personnel came to the school and led a dozen meetings and mini sessions for certified staff to help establish working PLCs.

“Now the staff is open to change,” Hicks says. “Before, teachers would shut their door and do their own thing. Now they discuss data, behavior and teaching strategies together.” This has led to a positive culture shift in the school, she says.

In April, the staff started a book study group, using Alan Blanksteins’s Failure Is Not an Option. That will include studying PLCs, as well as the rest of HOPE’s principles. “Once we are done with that, I will put my stamp on what I expect next year,” Hicks says. The book study will lay the foundation for HOPE’s June visit to the school to expand on the FNO principles.

Hicks is pleased with the results so far. Teachers are more interested in sharing their experiences with others and in instituting technology. Test scores have improved. All teachers have indicated they want to return next year; previously about four have asked for transfers each year. Teacher absenteeism is down, school morale is up and the community’s perception of Central Middle School has improved tremendously. The superintendent used to get about three to four complaints each week from parents; that has decreased to practically zero.

Hicks bills herself as “an inclusive leader” who seeks teacher input to help make better decisions.

“I want a school where we focus on the whole child, not just test scores,” the principal says. “So students are interested in academics and where their place is in the world. HOPE reinforces the things we need to focus on to make this happen.”