Having the Confidence
We gathered early in the North Phillips Middle School Media Center to monitor their Banner period. For some reason I expected to see tiny chairs around the tables. Immediately bringing back memories of visiting my children when they attended elementary school. But this was middle school. We all sat and made attempts at small talk. The IBM Service Corps team was still getting to know each other. On this morning we were attending a Banner session which is somewhat similar to Home-Room in other school districts. It wasn’t long before students began arriving. Our team climbed a ramp to a more general area as we waited for our escorts to take us to the predetermined classrooms. We sat awkwardly, again.
After ten minutes, seven students arrived to escort us to individual Banner sessions already taking place. I was paired with a quiet young man, whom I'll call John. We introduced ourselves then left to attend the class. Along the way we spoke about the winning football game the night before and the new release of Fortnite with its more intricate gear and places to hide. His openness to holding a conversation with a perfect stranger was admirable.
The Banner class I attended was lead by Coach Jones. It was dark when I entered the room. A student was leading the slide presentation on bullying. After discussing the benefits of Upstanding over By-standing, without turning on the lights, the topic changed to a "What If" scenario. The question on the floor, "What if money were no object, what career would you choose and why?"
Ok, I get it. A little Higher-order Thinking early in the morning. We passed a blue foam ball as a talking token. I was afraid that with my old eyes I’d miss the ball or not throw it well enough for the next person the catch it. But I did alright. After the question session we openly gave a round of accolades to whomever we chose. A few of the students chose Coach Jones. I could see why. She spoke to them as if she were their auntie. She was real. To her there was no wrong answer or statement. The space was safe. Soon after that the bell rang and we all started filing out of the classroom. I walked out with Coach Jones and we talked a bit about the class and the students. At the end of the hall we came across one of her students still wearing “spirit wear” in her hair from the winning game the night before. She introduced herself. I asked if I could interview her and, without hesitation, she said “yes”.
Confidence Exhibited
The young lady, whom I'll call Aisha, let me know that she enjoyed school and the activities she and other students do together. She talked about learning CPR and being so into the lesson that 20 minutes went by and she wasn’t even tired from doing repeated chest compressions.
When asked about how she felt about the school she smiled and said the teachers are nice and caring.
I asked her what she did outside of school and one of her favorite activities was acting.
"What?!”, I said. “Like in plays and stuff?”
“Can you do that now?”, I asked.
She said, “Yeah, " a second time and added, "Give me a role."
I asked her if she knew the movie Sister Act and she did. Right then and there, she cleared her throat, looked into the camera, got into character, and flawlessly said a line right out of the movie! Just then a voice came over the intercom. It was the morning announcements. She had to hurry off to her next class. I was amazed by her confidence, her comfort level, and the ease with which she gave an impromptu performance to a random audience of one without being weirded out.
What Determines a Failing School?
In the eyes of some, the North Phillips Middle School and North Edgecombe High School are failing. They’re one of 69 focus schools of 487 in NC considered to be low-performing by the state Board of Education and need to improve academic outcomes for their youth.
A year ago the administrators of both schools tried something new. They introduced a group of 30 students to a pilot program called North Phillips School of Innovation. This approach takes into consideration the whole child as well as their varied ways of learning and understanding topics. Since then they've moved the approach to the total school population. Students engage in self-directed, project-based learning and develop soft skills critical in work environments today and in the future. Moments of affirmation and self actualization are included in the day. Teachers intentionally show students love and appreciation.
What the Stakeholders Had To Say
All the adult stakeholders agree independently on the need for students to have mastery of content. There is also a need for students to be more engaged in their community, have the knowledge to navigate their own learning, and to be seen as human (beings), as you would an adult. Taking into account their environment and life stresses and how these impact their learning. For example, in 2016 Hurricane Matthew left many students homeless and with a deep sense of loss. After many months of repair Princeville Elementary School will reopen to teach for the first time in January 2020. The students need to have a sense of hope, happiness and belonging in their school.
Students from the pilot School of Innovation remarked that programs like Roses in Concrete are appreciated and enjoyed. With teachers who are rooting for their success.
After meeting with John and Aisha and their teachers I’m in agreement. There has to be more to measuring a person’s success than rote facts to be answered on a test. That’s not how we singularly operate in the world so it shouldn’t be completely how we’re measured.