PAGE 1Jennings school District2559 Dorwood Drive • Jennings, MO 63136 • 314-653-8000 • www.jenningsk12.net

September 2010

Jennings Junior High School Celebrates New Team New Attitude, New Leadership at Jennings Junior High School

The new and enthusiastic leadership team in place at Jennings Junior High School brings a fresh and compelling attitude for the projected 420-plus students for the new school year. “One vision, one focus on student achievement – we expect excellence,” said first year principal, GeNita Williams. “We must meet them where they are and bring them up to the next level.”

In addition to Williams, the new leadership team includes Assistant Principal Melba Davis, Dean of Students Dr. A. Michael Shaw and Instructional Improve-ment Specialist Dr. Bill Macdonald. Williams believes that the team of “experts” at the junior high brings a wealth of experience, know-how and dedication that will make a positive impact on the students’ social and academic dynamic.

The New Leadership Team ProfileGeNita Williams replaces Dr. Richard Bass as principal. Williams formerly

worked for the Jennings School District from 1999-2002 as an English teacher. She worked as assistant principal in two schools in DeKalb County, Georgia. Williams earned her undergraduate degree in secondary education from Harris-Stowe and Master’s degree from University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Williams understands that societal icons, fashions and music, for example, are extremely important to children of middle school age. "Finding a balance and staying in touch with what’s important to them is key to reaching them in the context of the educational environ-ment", she said. “I don’t have to agree with sagging but I can try to understand from their perspective.”

Melba Davis served as interim principal at Jennings Junior High School last year, and brings with her 35 years of experience as an educator in the St. Louis Public Schools as a teacher, instructional coordinator and administrator; “retiring” in June 2009 as principal at Carr Lane Visual and Performing Arts, a magnet middle school.

Davis said she is energized by young people and the benefits go beyond a paycheck. “I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience about educating the middle school child,” she said. “I understand kids at this level and have the energy and stamina to work with them.” She has learned over the years that children at the middle school age crave recognition, validation and guidance. “They want you to help them through this process,” she added. “They do have inner dreams of what they want to do with their lives. I see the potentiality in them.”

Dr. A. Michael Shaw, dean of students, hails from New Orleans and moved to the St. Louis area following the massive damage done by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He worked in the Orleans Perish School District for 12 years and has been in the Jennings District as a reading teacher at Fairview Intermediate, having initiated a number of successful programs such as “Dress for Suc-cess” and “Reading Around the World.” As dean, Shaw’s job is to zero in on student discipline and behavioral issues and bring appropriate solutions to those issues. He said he wants to be “fair and consistent” in helping students follow the rules and guidelines of the school. He recognizes the challenges of adolescence and how each student’s total person has to be addressed. “You have to touch students in an internal level, cognitive level as well as on an ex-ternal level to see them grow and develop properly,” he said. “We have to help students understand the benefits of avoiding conflicts by making the right Continued on Page 2

PAGE 2Jennings school District2559 Dorwood Drive • Jennings, MO 63136 • 314-653-8000 • www.jenningsk12.net

Spotlight on Jennings

NEW THEME AT FAIRVIEW INTERMEDIATE:T H E R A c E T o E x c E l l E N c E H A s N o F I N I s H l I N E

Congratulations to Gary GoreElementary School for making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP.) Superintendent Clarence Holman, Chief Academic Officer Georgia Bland-Whitfield and Princi-pal Delcina Bland presented students with a special ban-ner recognizing the students' accomplishments. "We are so very proud of each of you," said Superintendent Hol-man. "Keep up the good work and we expect the same this school year."

The new principal at Fairview Intermediate, Penny Parker, has her shoes tightly laced up and ready to make it to the winner’s circle this year with all of her students. “We’re hitting the ground run-ning,” said Parker. “Our new slogan says it all: The Race to Excel-lence Has No Finish Line.”

The former assistant to the superintendent, Parker comes back to the principal position with more than 12 years in the district, having been an instructional specialist. A major goal of Parker's is for Fairview Intermediate to make AYP in the 2010-11 school year, something that didn’t happen last year. To get there, Parker plans a “micro management” style of leadership where strategies and the decision-making process as it relates to student academic achieve-ment is closely monitored.

Parker said she plans to incorporate in a tangible way the tools of instruction, such as cross curriculum learning opportunities that connect art, music and physical education with language arts, math and science. Listening to the voices of her students to initiate interesting classroom learning ideas that can be mas-saged into stimulating teacher lesson plans is a strong encouragement.“Students need a voice,” she said.

“Good motivation” is one of the intangible tools that will go a long way in opening the minds of her 4th, 5th and 6th grad-ers. Volunteer mentors such as from Smurfit Stone and A.G. Edwards are all part of “The Race to Excellence Has No Finish Line” theme of the new school year.

“I try to present innovative strategies tied to the world the students live in,” Parker said. “It is my responsibility to make sure kids get all they need. We all work together as one.”

decisions and how delayed gratifications can be a plus in their lives.”Dr. Bill Macdonald, instructional improvement specialist, is like the mortar between the brick of a building. Without the mortar, the

bricks will come tumbling down. Macdonald’s job is to analyze student academic progress data and provide teachers and support staff with strategic resources that can be implemented in the classroom.

His focus is on outcomes, making sure the curriculum is tooled just right so students can achieve at the appropriate level based on state and federal educational standards. “When we make AYP, they’re not going to say 'Bill Macdonald;' the praise will go to the teachers and staff,” he said. “I want the spotlight to shine on the students and teachers.”

In education since 1990, Macdonald has been a teacher, assistant principal and principal in the Edwardsville School District. He also was the secondary curriculum coordinator for grades 6-12. This is his first year in the Jennings School District.

Jennings Junior High School Celebrates New Team (Continued from Page 1)

congratulations

PAGE 3Jennings school District2559 Dorwood Drive • Jennings, MO 63136 • 314-653-8000 • www.jenningsk12.net

Spotlight on Jennings

More than 1,500 people made up of parents, teachers, ad-ministrators and friends enjoyed themselves in the bright Au-gust sun on the grounds of Northview Elementary School for the 3rd Annual Jennings Back to School Jamboree.

Many wore red and black Back to School Jamboree T-shirts. Nobody seemed to mind the summer humidity as kids line-danced on stage, ate hot dogs and interacted with the various activities both outside and inside the school.

Activities included educational booths as well as an animal petting zone and--always kid’s favorite--inflatables featuring boxing, Humvee truck and hoops. A long line awaited color-fully attired “Ms. Marvelous the Clown” as she created balloon designs for children. “Why does everyone love Ms. Marvel-ous?” rhetorically asked Marva Robinson who has been clown-ing for more than 20 years. “Because she’s marvelous and likes showing a lot of love.”

Seventh grader Timothy Carruth liked “all the free stuff ” the Jamboree of-fered, as he pocketed two free pencils while holding a hot dog and chips in his hand.

A parent, Piper Pinnell, who has three children ages 10, 8 and 5 attending Jennings Schools, said she hasn’t missed any of the Jamborees and looks for-ward to coming every year. The educational booths,

activities and excitement are a positive and wonderful way to start the school year. “It really brings the community together with all the schools from the dis-trict coming together and seeing each other,” Pinnell said.

Kevin Horton, a member of Jennings Parents Advisory Committee, said the Jamboree is a way of demonstrating the ex-ceptional quality the school dis-trict is offering to its children. “This brings out the parents and they can see what the district is trying to do,” Horton said. “If

we can get this many parents to come out to other Jennings events, we’ll be batting a thousand.”

During introductions of district officials and Board of Educa-tion members from the stage, Superintendent Clarence E. Hol-man praised the positive start to the 2010-11 school year. “We got off to a great start this week. Hats off to parents and teachers,” Holman said.

School Board President Rose Mary Johnson said they’re expect-ing good things this year. “Jennings has it going on,” she shouted to the roar of the approving audience.

The stage was popping with the jams of DJ Bishop V-Luv. Rap-per Willie Moore, Jr., aka, Pretty Willie, P Dub and Hype Man D Stone fired the young folks up with a soul-stirring, funky and thumping hip-hop song, Young, Fly and Saved.

THIRD ANNUAL JENNINGS JAMBOREE A HUGE SUCCESS

PAGE 4Jennings school District2559 Dorwood Drive • Jennings, MO 63136 • 314-653-8000 • www.jenningsk12.net

Spotlight on Jennings

Relationship building that creates an atmo-sphere for learning is what new Jennings High School Principal Jeffrey Morris sees as a key ingredient in student achievement. Morris believes that student achievement is broader than just test scores but is also about growing and improving.

“The staff will have the greatest impact on success,” said Morris. “The relationship you build with students is the bridge that encour-ages them to do things because they want to.”

Morris replaces Dennis Akers who retired af-ter more than 30 years in the Jennings School District. Morris was the assistant superin-tendent in the Affton School District and has worked as assistant principal in Oakville, Ed-wardsville and Massac County School Districts. He holds a Master’s degree in Education Ad-ministration from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois and has a Bachelor’s de-gree in Math Education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.

Morris said he wanted the job at Jennings High after becoming acquainted with War-riors athletes in the Suburban North Athletic Conference during his affiliation with Affton School District. He said the student athletes were well behaved and he heard an extremely positive buzz about the Jennings School Dis-trict.

“I was also motivated by the direction of Central Office,” he said. “It’s very clear about what we've got to do. It’s going to be a challenge, but we’re up to the challenge.”

The challenge is clear for 2010: increase the percentage of students scoring at a higher level on state assess-ment tests in math and English, obtain an 85% or higher student graduation rate and a 93% or higher student attendance rate.

“It’s important that our students take pride in the school and themselves,” he said. “We’re just as good as any district in the nation. Our expectations are high.”

Morris has one other motivational force going for him in Jennings. The Massac County Illinois School District where he once worked--Metropolis--is the earthly and self-proclaimed home of the man of steel, Superman.

School Pride High on Agenda for NewJennings High Principal Jeffrey Morris