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November 19, 2009

Tribune-Star publisher serves day as middle school principal

By B.J.Riley

TERRE HAUTE — A horn sounded and the stampede began. You would think I was part of the running of the bulls or something, but, no, it was the typical beginning to a day at middle school.

About four weeks ago, I got a call from Dr. Sharon Pitts, the principal at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, asking if I would be interested in participating in the Vigo County schools’ “principal for a day” program. She explained that I would shadow her for a day to see what it is like for an administrator on a model day at a middle school. Since I live on the south side of town, after moving to Terre Haute only seven months ago, she thought it could give me a better understanding of “eastsiders” and help my acclimation to the city.

I was glad for the offer, and we worked out a day — this past Monday — for me to meet her at school. I had never been in a principal’s office without the request coming over the loud speakers in classrooms. The request was always accompanied by the words “report to,” so this was a nice change for me.

That is how the day started, with the horn and the stampede. I had forgotten what middle school was like, since I attended more than 30 years ago. Of course, then it was known as “junior high” and spanned grades 7 to 9.

Students and teachers began their day with an assembly, in which the speaker talked about the 21st Century Scholars program and what benefits it could bring to any number of students in the room. His presentation drew only scattered attention — until he told students about passing the bar exam recently and that he would begin his duties soon with a starting income of six figures. It was apparent that the math program at Woodrow Wilson helped students understand that was a lot of money. They realized, too, that the speaker was a person who was in their seats once upon a time. After hearing a similar presentation on the 21st Century Scholars program years ago, the speaker said, he was able to set attainable goals toward a path to a positive future.

After the assembly, Dr. Pitts gave me a tour of the building; I was amazed at the size of Woodrow Wilson. Built in 1926, and having undergone several renovations since then, it is a wonderful building that brings many challenges to teaching in the year 2009. Dr. Pitts confirmed the amount of attention that the building takes, but she still seems to be able to make sure that the students are the priority.

While walking with the principal, I enjoyed the bright smiles that her students, many of whom she knew by name, gave her in passing. With more than 700 students and over 40 teachers, I was amazed that she knew the names of so many kids. I know that they are there for three years, but there is always a new bunch coming in every year as the older ones move on. It showed me the interest that she takes in the kids.

Dr. Pitts related to me her experience in the school system and, in particular, her tenure at Woodrow Wilson. Having been at the school for more than 17 years, during numerous building renovations, she said that she has gotten know every nook and cranny of the place. But what was most impressive was the sparkle in her eyes when she started talking about the kids and the impact that she knew the teachers were making not only in Woodrow Wilson, but also in the community. Her passion for education showed me that she is trying to make a difference and that she really loves what she is doing and understands its importance.

The teachers throughout the building were very friendly and shared the passion of their principal for education and for the kids they teach. Without exception, they all had smiles on their faces, even as they shared some of the challenges that dealing with scores of pre-teens and teenagers can bring. I was really impressed with how in tune they are with their students and the goals they have for them. The day was a valuable time for me to further understand the challenges and victories that occur in a school every single day.

On Wednesday, the business people who were invited to the 28 different schools to be “principal for a day” got together; we were treated to a lunch and the opportunity to share our stories. It was amazing to hear the comments from each of the participants about how tough we all found it to be as the headmaster of a school. I was also taken by how appreciative the principals were of the support they receive from local businesses and volunteers and its impact on the children they serve. It was a great overall experience.

I applaud Danny Tanoos and the various principals, administrators and educators for what they are trying to accomplish each and every day in the schools in Vigo County. I was proud to be a part of this year’s principal for a day program and appreciate the opportunity to get a glimpse of how hard these folks work with our children and for our community. I also want to thank Dr. Pitts for her time in showing me more about Woodrow Wilson Middle School and helping me to better understand how much teachers care about our kids. Keep up the good work. The kids in the community, including my own, are worth it.



B.J. Riley is the publisher of the Tribune-Star. He can be reached at (812) 231-4297 or bjriley@tribstar.com

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