What happens when people REALLY demonstrate a care and concern for young people? Enter Superintendent Tiffany Anderson, nearly four years ago, at the Jennings School District just north of St. Louis, MO. Walking into a situation with low income and schools reeling from low achievement (not to mention other problems) couldn't have been easy.
Oh my, how things have changed! This past year the high school saw 92% of its students graduating on time. Add to that the fact that 78% of the class either attended post secondary schools or entered the military. Why the drastic improvement.
Two words...Tiffany Anderson. In those four short years Ms. Anderson has helped to build Hope House for the homeless, garnered philanthropic funds, started Saturday School, developed a means for collecting needed clothing and set up the Jennings Community Cupboard so that food finds it way to those in need.
In short, Tiffany and other in the school and community are taking care of 'the whole child.'
It seems as though there is a lesson to be learned about tackling high poverty pockets in America. School personnel have to attend to much more than the old '3 r's." Any and all of the needs of children, within and outside of the building, have to be dealt with in a serious manner.
Well done Jennings!
Dick
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