Mr. Leavell goes to Washington
November 3rd, 2009 by marietta nelsonWarning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821
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Christine Lynch, the state's 2009 Middle School Principal of the Year, and Aaron Leavell, the state's 2009 High School Principal of the Year met with Sen. Patty Murray on a recent trip to Washington D.C.
In what may seem like a lifetime ago, Aaron
Leavell was named the 2009 High School Principal of the Year in
March, honoring him and the staff at Bremerton High School. Leavell
has since moved from BHS to become director of secondary education
for the North Kitsap School District, but the recognition
and its benefits are ongoing.
In fact he just recently got back from a
national event hosted by the National Association of School
Principals in Washington D.C. for the state-level
winners.
A former social studies teacher, Leavell said
he was in awe during his first visit to the nation’s capitol. He
joked that one aspect of professional development for first-year
teachers should be a sightseeing trip around D.C.’s
landmarks.
“It was truly amazing, everything is so
fast-paced,” he said.
Leavell and the other 99 winners (including
Spokane’s Christine Lynch, the middle school winner) “stormed the
Hill” one day to talk with members of Congress. It was a busy time
with staffers and senators and representatives rushing
around debating healthcare reform, Leavell said. But most
folks made time for the educators. Lynch and Leavell met with
Sen. Patty Murray and with staff members from the offices of
Maria Cantwell, Cathy McMorris-Rodgers and Norm Dicks.
In Dicks’ office, Leavell met with a familiar
face: Colin Sheldon, son of former state Sen. Betti Sheldon. Also,
Murray told Leavell that one of his former students now works in
her Seattle office. The young woman got into politics due in part
to Leavell’s influence in social studies class.
“That kind of reminds you that this really is
the right work that we’re doing,” he said.
Before the meetings, Leavell and Lynch
agreed to focus on federal-level education issues, especially the
requirements of No Child Left Behind and the funds coming from the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“Christine and I agreed that the
accountability of NCLB keeps us focused in education,” he
said.
But, Leavell said they tried to explain that
the requirements under NCLB are unfair to special education
students and English language learners. And that money
is taken away from the classroom under NCLB when schools don’t meet
the requirements.
The congress members and their aides seemed to
understand that federal education laws need to be changed, he
said.
“I felt listened to. They were very attentive
and they appeared to understand the issues,” he said. They also
reminded Leavell and Lynch that while education is at or near the
top of their priorities, funding is still a problem.
And speaking of funding, Leavell said he and
Lynch reminded everyone of the need to “fund the middle.” It’s
popular right now to push money toward early childhood and
higher education, but those middle years are important too. What
happens from sixth through 12th grades has great influence on the
drop-out and graduation rates. Further, the educators asked members
of Congress to consider the new High School Graduation Promise Act.
The act would release $2.5 billion in competitive grants for
programs aimed at reducing the dropout rate. It would target
schools with a 60 percent or lower rate of on-time
graduation.
On another day in D.C. the principals gathered
in small groups to share success stories and new ideas from
their schools.
They were given scenarios: If you could
build the high school of your dreams, what would you put inside
it?
During the ensuing discussion, Leavell was
proud to be able to share the different strategies BHS
has employed to help kids. Those strategies include: dedicated
teacher collaboration time, standards-based homework and
grading, contract learning, a support system for AP students
and the freshmen academy.
Leavell said it also was interesting to hear
what other school districts are doing. Lack of funding was
certainly a common complaint, with lots of “doom and gloom”
talk.
But, he said, “I look at it as an opportunity.
This is just one more opportunity for us to put our best thinking
forward and do the best with what we have.”
Funding might be inadequate and out of local
school leaders’ control, he said. So it’s important to focus on
what local leaders can influence – student achievement and
teaching.
Leavell hopes to use the rest of his time as
the 2009 winner to talk about education with anyone who will
listen. He’s open to speaking with local service clubs. And he’s
giving speeches at some education association meetings in the near
future.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Wait, is this the same dude that was principal during the Operation Pharmacy drug bust at Bremerton High a few years ago?
Talk about rewarding failure… with “leadership” like this, its no wonder how Bremerton schools remain second rate.
November 4th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Jason
I believe Operation Pharmacy involved some BHS students but did not actually occur on school grounds. No drugs or weapons were found at the school.
You can read more about the incident here: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/feb/09/leaders-say-bremerton-high-is-safe/
Marietta Nelson