"We sure ain't in Kansas anymore Dorothy! They (the GPS) told us to just follow the yellow road, but there are SO many roads. Yellow ones, grey, black, red... and isn't there supposed to be paint on the roads to keep us side by side? What is this BRONX.... is that like OZ? I never knew there were so people in OZ, and they kinda talk funny, is that their munchkin accent?”
What do you do when the GPS tells you one direction, MapQuest another, and Google maps a third? I went with the GPS, a lot easier than trying to read. I got there!
Jamie asked me to share some of my recent experiences as a member of a “Schools to Watch” site visit team to Garden City Middle School. The problem I face is sorting through all the interviews and observations over the past two days. Garden City is an upper middle class community which has a very clear emphasis on high academic performance with a school (grades 6-8) population of 1100. They regularly score in the mid/upper 90's percentile having 3’s and 4's on all state assessments, they also have strong athletic modified and intermural programs, as well as expressive arts offerings. A healthy competitive nature runs through the building. Speaking of the building, it does have a newer built section, but for the most part I felt like I was visiting Hickory from the movie “Hoosiers”. Crammed rooms, often very little heat, outdated halls and stair wells which led to ???. To say the least, our first day was off to an auspicious start. The Superintendent no showed, HS sent an assistant, elementary principals no showed and several staff and faculty had very little idea who and why we were there. We witnessed less than impressive classroom practices. This is a school to watch? Our evening wrap-up and start of the evaluation process was not very positive. Maybe it's good to have the second day. First thing Tuesday morning we all had our “A-HA” moment, the kids! Each one of us was blown away with these kids. They loved being in this school. This universal message was received loud and clear. Yes there were significant deficiencies in the building, technology, and classroom practices, but there is something going on there that has a near total “buy in” from the kids. They LOVE being there, they want to perform well in class, they love the clubs, activities, the athletics, the arts, and they feel safe in doing them. As the second day evolved a new light was shed on Garden City. We saw a school community. From the administrators , counselors, teachers, aides and staff, the students do and always will come first.
It was clear the students left a lasting impression on all of us. This also is where I felt, as a representative of AAK, most closely connected with our Island colleagues. There is something special about the school community environment we have. Now more than ever, we need to remind ourselves of what it is that we do at AAK that warranted recognition, and be able to continue these practices. We owe it to our kids!
Have a great break,
Dave Vroman
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