Quest Charter Academy is one District 150 school that is constantly on the grow. As such, every year, for the next several years, Quest will essentially be a new school. I find the aspect of the constant change very interesting, because Quest is a middle school that is transitioning to include a high school and we all know that the transition from primary to middle; and the subsequent transition from middle to high school can be very difficult on students.
- First year - grades 5-7 in old Loucks School
- Second year - grades 5-8 in old Loucks School
- Third year - grades 5-7 in old Columbia School
- Third year - grades 8-9 in renovated Loucks School
- Fourth year - grades 5-8 in old Columbia School
- Fourth year - grades 9-10 in renovated Loucks School
- Fifth year - grades 9-11 in renovated Loucks School
- Sixth year - grades 9-12 in renovated Loucks School
Not only will the physical aspects of the school change every single year, but there is also the constant change in staff. For the 2012-2013 school year, the school has hired 11 new staff members, including two to replace two employees whose contracts were not renewed.
The 2012-2013 school year Quest students will find that the two ladies who knew them so well, Dean Stockman and Dean Armstrong will no longer be there. In my opinion, the loss of the Deans is quite significant. We have read on this blog and heard out in the community about the fighting and bullying problems that exist at Quest. Hopefully the replacements for these two will be able to acclimate their selves with the particulars of the student body, before school begins. Otherwise, the bullies and trouble makers will be free to start anew... and they will.
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| From the Silas Willard, April 2012, school newsletter |
15 comments:
Was Stockman's contract not renewed or did she resign? It appears that she found a job early in the year, so wouldn't her leaving be considered a resignation.
Stockman will be principal at a school in Galesburg. I don't know where Armstrong is going. I know a teacher named Mr. Steffan is not coming back. He is moving. Don't know who else or why.
The sibling rule Quest has for the lottery should be dissolved now that they have 2 separate schools. It shouldn't be applied for middle to high school. If you are bringing siblings into the middle school that's fine, but a middle school student shouldn't be able to hold a spot for a high school student and vice versa.
I'd be interested in the curriculum and instruction planned for the 9th graders. Will they have "choice" in the way of electives?
These observations about change are very interesting, Emerge--as they apply to Quest but, also, all the changes in District 150. As Lathan was moving principals from one place to the other, I wonder if she gave any thought to the effect of such changes on students. Kids (I would say especially inner city schools) need continuity--they like the security of seeing familiar faces when they return to school in the fall. At some point, someone has to admit that not all change is good. There is magic in finding the right change--but I think the powers that be are looking for change that benefits them and that might not be the change that benefits those who have to live with the change.
Stockman was forced out by Lathan. Huge loss. She was arguably the best principal in the district. Glad she got another school to run.
Taunya jenkins "used" Mrs. Stockman for years at Roosevelt(Angie made jenkins look good since she did ALL the work). Everyone knew that angie would be a successful principal because she is such a professional, unlike jenkins. However, jenkins, like lathan rules through fear and intimidation, so it was just a matter of time that stockman would be pushed out. Good luck, Mrs. Stockman, a class act!
Emerge - Don't believe I've thanked you lately for all the excellent work you do. This series of posts on Quest took a lot of time and effort to pull together.
Maybe the PJS should hire you for its Education Blog so more in the community can be informed.
I certainly second Frustrated's thank you to Emerge--she does a great job of getting information out to the public.
You ladies are very kind. Thank you and you are welcome...
Additionally during Quest's first year, Susan Gersnich (sp), who was a former District 150 Administrator, was the Assistant Principal.
As the AP, she was the main disciplinarian... she left, the next year, in comes Stockman and Armstrong... they are leaving.
I hate to say this but constant turn over of deans is not going to help Quest's bullying and fighting problems. Quest MUST get a handle on the violence before the real transformation in these students lives can begin.
There are some outstanding students at Quest, who have really showed a thirst for wanting to learn and improve. I'm rooting for THEM.
I would also like to add my thanks for maintaing this site and all of the work you do to keep the community informed. Your efforts are appreciated.
Susan Grzanich - she had been a science teacher at Calvin Coolidge, then moved to Edison (I think at Franklin), then worked for Edison Corp., then to District 150 office under Hinton as Teaching and Learning Director, then at Quest. She became principal at Jefferson Elementary School in Morton this past year.
My thanks, also, Emerge. QUEST is going to have to stop hiring D150's principal's demoted principals in order to stop the turn-over. They all seem to leave after one year.
Susan Grzanich was good for D150.
District 150's retention rate seems to be dramatically affected by the current leadership. And I am not talking about students. Seems, most (like the Deans referenced in this post) have experience and training that makes them attractive candidates to other districts. What about the current District work atmosphere (not talking about naughty kids) would want to make a professional stay?? Just asking?
transitions are damaging to learning for reasons you review- too bad Lathan refuses to even discuss returning 150 to k-8 shools, like those 150 had until mid-80's.
BoE fcllows like sheep.
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