“We're not gonna take it
No, we ain't gonna take it
We're not gonna take it, anymore”
-- Daniel Dee Snider, Twisted Sister
By Tommie Saylor
Truman High School Principal
The past week has been challenging.
Between fighting misconceptions regarding bed bugs, issues with seniors
graduating on time and drug dogs “hitting” on students bags and cars, I can state
that I was not bored this week.
Yet, I never felt the need to “call
for my red shirt.” I knew that when I needed staff support, it would be there;
that when I needed to lead the staff even onto unknown grounds, they would follow
and that when I needed the staff to take action, it would. What I said at
Wednesday’s staff meeting came from the heart: You truly are the most amazing
staff I have ever had the honor of working with. You are inspirational.
Looking at the data presented during
the staff meeting, data collected by Michigan Department of Education
representatives as they interviewed our students, it is the students who are
reporting changes at Truman. Our students believe that you are showing more
care and concern for them than ever before, that school is a safe place to
learn and that the climate at Truman High School is clearly becoming more and
more positive.
Our students believe that they are
being heard when they speak to us, that their voices count for something, that
the levels of mutual respect is up and the incidences of violence are down. In
short, as a staff we have earned their trust, their respect, and as a student
body, they have started to trust and respect each other as well.
Yet, most exciting of all, is the
preliminary junior ACT average score.
Last year, when we adjusted student
grade levels based upon credits earned as opposed to years spent at school and
a large number of would-be juniors were pushed back to the 10th and sometimes
ninth grade, we expected to see a spike in ACT scores.
In fact, the average score spiked
almost two full points, but we all held our breath. We knew that the following
year – this year -- when all those who were left behind the year before would
finally take the ACT, which could result in an excessively large low-performing
subgroup that would crash our scores to obscene levels. We were fearful
of seeing a drop-off in scores equal to two, three or maybe even four full
points.
What we experienced was by far
different than from what we expected. We experienced an excessively mild
decrease in the preliminary junior ACT average score equal to only five-tenths
of a point.
We went from an average score of 18.9
to 18.4. Although this was a decline over last year’s score, we felt as if we
“dodged a bullet.” How could we, the high school that has the most
difficult, roughest and by far the neediest students in the city of Taylor –
and who concentrated year’s worth of lower-performing students into a single
test cycle – only experience a minimal decrease?
I have the reason for you: The hard
work, dedication and never give up attitude of Truman’s teachers and staff.
Give us a challenge and we will find a way through it.
The reports are starting to come in
from students, parents, community members and the Michigan Department of
Education and they are stating that slowly but surely, we are experiencing
progress and positive change.
Everyone, your efforts are being noticed.
Remember, their future is in our
hands. Improving one week at a time. The New Truman High School.
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