“Be
a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where
excellence is expected.”
Steve
Jobs
By
Tommie Saylor
Kennedy
High School Principal
I’m
amazed when I hear that some of our community members do not know what Kennedy
High School is all about. So let me explain.
Our
vision, the driving force behind all of our efforts and the purpose for our
existence, is as follows:
The
community of John F. Kennedy High School, through innovative techniques,
applied technology, effective instruction and lasting relationships, will
prepare students for a successful and diverse future.
Our
mission, the filter by which we make day-to-day decisions, the lens by which we
focus and how we plan to achieve the vision is as follows:
John
F. Kennedy High School is a community committed to improving the lives and
education of its students.
The
process by which we work the mission to achieve the vision is through careful
application of the three R’s:
Relationships
– Building positive, healthy, and intuitive relationships with our students,
which will not only lead them to a high school diploma, but also better prepare
for the world that exists outside of our halls.
Simply,
“students don’t care how much you know, until they know how much to care.” This
is accomplished by remaining respectful at all times. Nurturing students through
difficulties, and by taking an interest in each and every student. It is
accomplished by getting to know the student.
This
is why we attend sporting events, so that the students can see that we are
there, that we care. This is why we take the time to sit and visit with
students and have casual conversations with them as they tell us their hopes
and dreams.
By doing so, we are able to leverage the relationships we build with our
students to push them toward success.
Relevance
– Making lessons meaningful to the student and making lessons “fit” into their
world. By doing so, we are better able to draw the student into the
lesson. If we are able to show the student why the lesson is important,
how the content being covered can be utilized, where the knowledge is leading,
then the student is more inclined to open their mind to the lesson and embrace
the learning process.
By
making the lesson relevant to the student, we are better able to spark the fire
of interest that lights the student’s path through the darkness of ignorance.
Rigor
– The building of relationships and the unveiling of relevance is what can
drive the students toward rigor. It is rigor that unlocks the student’s
minds and secures their future. Through rigor, students are able to grow academically,
and see the world in shades of possibilities. This process opens doors that
would otherwise be sealed.
It
is the pursuit of rigor that drives our students toward the acquisition of the mission,
and the realization of the vision.
To
ensure the proper application of the Three R’s, we have implemented the PLC
process. The Professional Learning Community (PLC) process is centered on
getting teachers together to discuss curriculum, review best practices and
review student learning data.
We
gather our educational experts to review, dissect and scrutinize every
assignment, every assessment and every lesson to insure the highest quality
educational experience humanly possible.
The
PLC process is about teachers becoming their own worst critic, to ensure that
only the absolute best lessons are being presented to their students. By doing
do, we certify that the Three R’s are being implemented with fidelity.
In
my mind, the mission lies upon the edge of one side of a vast canyon, while the
vision lies on the corresponding edge at the other side.
The
daily lesson is the bridge between the mission and the vision, while the Three
R’s are the pillars that support the bridge.
The
PLC process is the method by which the bridge goes through constant inspection,
guaranteeing that it remains viable and sound. It is with this symphony
of progressions (along with an endless supporting cast), that the vision is
ultimately attained.
In
essence, Kennedy High School is more than just a school that concerns itself
with the teaching of generic lessons. It is a full-service learning institution
where the “whole” student is cultivated into releasing the potential they hide
deep inside.
Kennedy
High School is an institution where dreams are born, ambitions are congealed and
spirits cultured. We measure our success by the number of students we
bring to full bloom.
How
and where will you lead them. Making Kennedy the school of choice. Excellence
by design.
