On Time with Students: “I like to jokingly say, ‘We’ve kidnapped their kids.’ They’re here from 7am to 6pm. We have them on Friday nights, we have them on weekends, we have Saturday Academy, then we have six weeks of summer school and summer camp.”
On Meeting Children’s Needs: “You have to find out what the shortcomings are that the kids are walking through the door with. If its clothing, if it’s childcare, if it’s having activities after school that are positive, you have to fill that back. You have to make sure the child is whole. If you get that child whole, then they will learn.”
On Teacher Support: “If a teacher comes and says she needs something for her classroom, if we can’t afford it I will personally go out and try to raise money for the classroom teacher. They feel very supported here.”
Doreen Crawford, Principal
On High Expectations: “Students know that we require the very best, so they give the very best that they have. That’s my philosophy of how to raise scores and raise student achievement.”
On Parent Involvement: “We have an open door policy, so parents feel free to come in, visit the school, see how students are being taught, see what type of environment they are working in. A lot of parents don’t go out, don’t visit their principals because they feel intimidated by what takes place. They feel talked down to. You have to make sure parents know that their kids are the most important part of the school.”
Kimberly Berry, 3rd Grade Teacher
On Catching Students Up: “Even if their scores are really, really low it excites me because I know where they are going to be come March. It’s amazing what they can do in such a short amount of time. Every member of the faculty here, from administration to custodians, shows every child that they have high expectations for them. It’s just a natural thing.”
On School Culture: “Everyone is familiar with every child, because we are just a small, close school and community. Everyone knows every child. And everyone plays a part in making sure everyone gets what they need.”
On Professionalism: “This is the most professional staff I’ve ever worked with. It’s contagious. Everyone does their part, everyone goes out of their way to make sure the child gets the very best.”
Location: 250 Blue Hills Avenue
On Time with Students:
On High Expectations:
On Catching Students Up: