Sebastian Medina-Tayac Photo
In Jeremy Burnett’s first year at Hillhouse High, he was falling behind academically and “on the wrong path.” Then the Public Safety Academy took him under its wing. Now, on Wednesday, he was sitting at a table with the executive director and the CFO of New Haven Public Schools, proudly listing the certifications he’s graduating with: Private Security, Emergency Medical Response, CPR and OSHA.
Burnett is on track to become a firefighter and would eventually like to try out for the police academy.
The Public Safety Academy was introduced at Hillhouse as part of the “School Change” initiative, the school-reform drive the city embarked on five years ago in order to improve students’ experiences in schools. Officials claimed the initiative in its first five years has resulted in a higher graduation rate, lower number of suspensions and expulsions, and partnerships with other city agencies and organizations.
At a sunny outdoor breakfast Wednesday at Sound School in City Point, schools Superintendent Garth Harries brought together NHPS students, officials, and community agencies to discuss “School Change 2.0,” an “extension of our commitment to students” initiated in January.
Its goals include raising the graduation rate from 75 percent to 85 percent, increasing the number of students entering and staying in college, and improving restorative disciplinary policy to keep kids in schools and off the streets.
“We started School Change six years ago, and we need to stick to it,” he said. “We need collaboration with parents, educators and community partners to make this recommitment. That’s what this is about.”
Harries’ introduction was followed by words from Mayor Toni Harp, who gave a summary of the initiative’s history since 2009, and a partnership between the public school system and the New Haven Federation of Teachers to implement it.
Students, recent graduates, a principal, and an educator also took the stand to discuss their personal experiences with the successes of School Change since 2010.
Katherine Perez, a New Haven Promise scholar now in her junior year at Southern Connecticut State, discussed the encouragement she received from teachers and administrators at Wilbur Cross High during her time there. Her teachers enabled her to enter higher education, her parents’ dream since they immigrated to Fair Haven from Nicaragua in 1991.
“Teachers in New Haven pick up the role of mentors and guides,” she said. “And now, more outside organizations are coming into schools to help students.”
Ramon Brown, another New Haven Promise scholar, echoed that teachers help students “overcome the hopelessness and negativity” from home that students sometimes carry with them to school.
Personal engagement with students beyond just academic needs was an important strategy for Janet Brown Clayton, the principal who turned around Lincoln-Bassett Elementary, from a “below basic” score on its annual evaluation to “proficient.”
In an impassioned speech, she discussed the “difficult conversations” that had to take place at school in which 85 percent of teachers are white and 85 percent of students are black, in order to reach a mutual understanding.
Under the new School Change initiative, she was able to change the culture of the school such that teachers “see beyond the behaviors and see the needs of students,” often stemming from problems at home; similarly, students were held to a higher standard, with a more reflective disciplinary policy. The speech concluded with a verse from the Bible and a standing ovation.
At the end of the event, a student or alum seated at each round table moderated discussions between attendees about the improvements they have seen since 2010 and further strategies, individual and collective, they could take to further improve public schools.
“We need to continue the work we’ve been doing to encourage cross-functional teams and align the various city offices to work together,” said NHPS Executive Director Damaris Rau. “Anyone can be involved in improving public schools.”
Burnett couldn’t stop grinning as he was talking to the adults seated around the table.
“I’ve been in New Haven Public Schools my whole life, and I’ve seen all the growth that educators are doing,” he said. “Sorry, I’m just so proud of myself.”
