I have never named this school I write about in my blogs. But now, everyone knows that this is the same Lacoochee Elementary School that hit the front page of the newspaper today because of the fact that all the faculty will be let go because it has been a D school for three years running. There are a lot of unanswered questions. There is a lot of baggage there, a lot stemming from the previous Superintendent who constructed huge road blocks to progress.
I know that there are a lot of unanswered questions about this school! Why is this school at the top of the list to be restructured in some way? We need more information.
From the point of view from a long time volunteer who has been judgmental (because I have been a school principal and I think hard about these things), I have been saddened and sometimes outraged about what happens in this school that I love.
So many times I have noticed how unfriendly I feel at this school. Very few "Good Mornings!" Many reasons I can't do this or that.
The students I have in classes are so enthusiastic and bright! They love the creative teaching I do with them. But the administration is hard to get by, to let me actually teach!
It has been a hard slog in this school! The four of us who got a grant and brought a community garden to the place have been barely seen, never understood or appreciated. We thought this would be an exciting and fun place, full of educational experiences about good nutrition and the science of botany.
Most of the teachers have never even known that a school garden was out there (So verdant and green and burgeoning with harvestable vegetables) The kids love being out there in the garden, but there are plenty of teachers whose kids have never been out there to water and pick off the bugs , learn about how to grow things, and take home bags of vegetables. No one but us takes any responsibility or pride in this. Makes me sad. Cooking the vegetables has been hard because there is always the issue of the locked (high security) room where we have our cooking supplies. Daunting.
We volunteers have noticed that so many times that if any kids come to the garden they are accompanied by substitute teachers. Why is this? The actual classroom teachers are in meetings?
The school garden is just an iconic thing about the general health of this school. No one would ever bother to water the plants or think about what it takes to make anything grow. (Including kids!)
Why is this? It's not because people loathe vegetables or harbor ill will towards us who superintend the garden. I think some of them are proud of this work their students do. Some of them harvest food to take home. People at this school do not have any time! The school has been under state supervision this year so that it could make a better grade than a D. Those kids absolutely must do well on the FCATS or else! So the teachers are constantly in meetings with "the state" or preparing for meetings with "the state" or coaching the kids to be better test takers. It's hard to find time to teach!
Or else! just happened. Maybe knowing that the other shoe has dropped the folks at Lacoochee can find some time for fun and some joy and a big bite of a fresh tomato.
The current principal tried really hard in a very difficult situation.
That said, I am thinking that in the best possible world a new principal will be appointed. He/she will be enthusiastic and affirming, speak standard English (maybe Spanish). This new principal will be very well educated and open to new ideas, read widely, and be able to guide the staff of teachers to new heights. This new principal will encourage the wild ideas of a creative staff. This new principal will be inclusive and energize the teachers and let them all know how important it is to affirm every parent , child and community member for what they do. This new principal needs to have a sense of humor and fun. And this new principal needs to have a strong support system in their administration - including a strong parent/community person who can seamlessly know what needs to be done. This new principal needs to have a vision of what can be done in this amazing community of mostly hispanics.
And this principal will have the time to lead and inspire a great team.
I am thinking that the best principal will know how important it is to have every single teacher be in his/her classroom every single day! Pare down those "important" meetings.
This school is inhabited by the best children on earth. They are the brightest and best, like any others in our schools.
They deserve the best.
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