Honorable
mention Principal knows the key to
success is believing in the kids Melody McCloud,
principal of Phillips Elementary, was
honored Nov. 7 in Washington, D.C., with
the National Distinguished Principal Award
2003 for the state of Virginia. McCloud
won the award for her work at Moton
Elementary in Hampton. Photo by Bob
Ostermaier/Daily Press When Melody T. McCloud walked
into Robert R. Moton Elementary School in 1997
as the new principal, she knew immediately she
had a job on her hands. Poor teacher morale, low
student self-esteem and underachieving children
all combined to create a negative atmosphere
over this quiet area of Phoebus. Something had to
change. Six years later, Moton
Elementary had earned full accreditation under
the state's rigorous Standards of Learning
exams, and first-graders' literacy test scores
ranked second in the state out of 915 schools
with similar populations. But, perhaps most
importantly, the teachers again believed the
children could succeed. And, in turn, children
began to enjoy learning again. "You must believe in the
children, " McCloud said. "If you believe in
them, they'll be a success. If you don't
believe, it's not going to happen." But it did happen. And to
recognize her hard work and dedication, McCloud
was named 2003 National Distinguished Principal
for Virginia earlier this year by the National
Association of Elementary School
Principals. McCloud received her award
from Dr. Jo Lynn DeMary, superintendent of
Public Instruction for Virginia, at a Nov. 7
ceremony in Washington, D.C. She was one of 65
elementary and middle school principals from
across the nation and from U.S. schools abroad
to be honored by the NAESP. Founded in 1921, the
association serves as a professional
organization for the more than 30,000 elementary
and middle school educators throughout the
country. The program began in 1984 to recognize
public and private school principals who make
superior contributions to their schools and
communities. Principals are nominated by
their peers based on the high level of standards
and commitment they demonstrate, the levels of
excellence they achieve and their regard within
the community. All nominees must be practicing
principals. Moton is a Title I school,
with nearly 85 percent of its students coming
from low-income households. Title I schools are
those identified to receive additional funds to
aid low-achieving children, especially in
high-poverty schools. The aim of the program is
to help disadvantaged students keep pace with
those in more fortunate positions. McCloud says she quickly
realized she needed to educate herself, her
staff and parents about the important
differences involved with teaching children from
low socio-economic backgrounds if the children
were to have any chance at success. The result, she says, was a
series of initiatives that involved parents to a
far greater extent, introduced teachers to a
new, refreshing approach to teaching, and gave
the children a better understanding of why there
were there in the first place. "I believe in trying to
encourage teachers through personal growth and
autonomy," McCloud said. "Teachers are so
creative. They can all develop ways to make kids
more successful." McCloud said she embraced a
strategy called "Developmental Assets" adopted
by the Coalition for Youth, an organization
dedicated to addressing youth issues in Hampton.
The strategy says there are 40 critical factors
in a young person's development &endash; things
such as family support, a caring school
environment, reading for pleasure and honesty
&endash; which can be developed regardless of a
student's financial background. An increase in these assets
helps protect children from a variety of problem
behaviors, McCloud said. An increase in assets
also promotes positive behaviors and attitudes,
she said. "The teachers ask, 'What is
it we can do to make a difference for our
children?'" McCloud said. "And the children feel
we really value them, but not based on what they
have or they don't have." McCloud introduced a policy
that may be regarded as controversial at many
schools. But with the support of 90 percent of
the parents, in 2001 children at Moton began to
wear a school uniform, a move that proved a
pivotal factor in the school's reversal of
fortune. "The children needed to be
focused on the work they were doing, not what
other kids were wearing," she said. The school established local
business partners to help pay for uniforms that
some parents couldn't afford. And fellow
parents, even teachers, made donations. It meant
the children were less distracted and became
more focused on the teacher, McCloud
said. With parents firmly on her
side, McCloud seized upon their newfound
enthusiasm and, recognizing the importance of
parental involvement in a child's education,
pulled them closer into the fold. At first, very
few parents visited the school, she said. Soon,
whole families were involved. Teachers held evening
workshops for parents to help them work more
closely with their children at home, promoted
the importance of reading with their child, and
suggested ways to help them with their homework.
Just providing a comfortable place at home for
them to work can make all the difference, she
said. "The parent, actually, is the
child's first teacher, so their role is
critical," McCloud said. "Any time you get
parents involved in the child's education, they
can promote other things in the child's
success." "This school has overcome
amazing odds," said Patricia Leary, the school
division's regional director for elementary
education. "When the nomination forms came out,
I read through the criteria and her face came
right to mind. She did so many things that were
out of the box." McCloud is now the principal
at Phillips Elementary. As she reflects on her
time at Moton and the success the school
enjoyed, she's quick to share her award with
everyone connected to the school. "I was very fortunate to work
with some wonderful people at Moton &endash; and
I'm double lucky to be with even more here at
Phillips," she said. But she clearly values the
needs of the children above all, with their
parents, her teachers, and everyone else coming
a very close second.
Story by Peter Hull of
the Daily Press, originally appearing on
December 4th, 2003. Copyright 2003 Daily Press,
Inc. Reproduced with permission.
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