Saturday, March 10, 2012

Farm Hill Interim Principal Delivers On District Promise

On Thursday, January 12th, 2012, then Superintendent of Schools Michael Frechette told the parents gathered at the Farm Hill PTA meeting that he was "committed to turning this around...we need to be transparent with our outcomes and clear with parents, clear with students, clear with staff, and we need to talk about the issues we face. Communication here really needs work....Quite frankly, it has gone on too long." Frechette's comments were of course made in the context of the "scream room" controversy, and by Monday, January 30th, Farm Hill Principal Patricia Girard had stepped out on an indefinite leave of absence.


Girard's replacement, a former principal at both Spencer and Lawrence Elementary Schools, was called out of the classroom and back into the principal's office. Citing a need to better balance his work/life responsibilities, Mark Proffitt had previously stepped out of administrative duties with an eye toward retirement along side his wife, a veteran teacher of 35 years in the Torrington School District.


So when Dr. Frechette called and asked Proffitt to step in as interim principal, Proffitt was very upfront about his plans to retire this summer: "If I were in a different place in my life, I would love to stay here. I'm having a great time working with teachers, parents and children here at Farm Hill." Because he agreed to stay only though the end of the year, Proffitt hopes a new principal is found before the end of the year so there is time to begin the transition process while students are still in school to see what's happening.


In the meantime, in just five short weeks, parents and PTA President Apryl Dudley agree that Farm Hill is "a completely different school." Dudley commented,


I have been at the school all morning. I find it hard to leave because it is now such a happy, positive environment. I can't stress to you how much happier the staff and students seem to be now that Mr. Proffitt has been here! I just met with him this morning about more exciting and fun events he is planning for the school and our 5th graders. I look forward to working with him for the remainder of this school year and hope his positive behavior and great ideas continue next year with a new principal. The school which once had a "Black Cloud" lingering over it now has "sunshine."


Mark Proffitt obviously is excited about the positive direction he sees the school moving in. “My big issue and primary focus at this point is to gain as much positive press about the school as we can.” His secondary focus is to reach out to parents to engage in a meaningful dialog, and a third priority is to maintain open communications. To accomplish these goals, Proffitt has turned to some "old school" techniques to build community:


[Author's note: I say "old school" because it's stuff I remember from my elementary school days, and I'm fairly old, so that counts as a legitimate descriptor as far as I'm concerned.]


  • There's a new white board in the main hallway at the foot of the stars that lists all the events/important information happening at the school in one place.
  • All the school events between now and the end of the year are posted on the school's website.
  • Morning announcements occur each morning over the intercom, including the Pledge of Allegiance*, a time for silent meditation, updates on activities, student reminders (including behavior expectation reminders), and acknowledgement of student accomplishments outside of school functions.
  • Mr. Proffitt gets on each bus every morning to greet students and gets back on at the end of the day to say good-by.
  • Mr. Proffitt is very visible during the day in the cafeteria, the playground, the hallway, and even in classrooms.
  • On Fridays, Mr. Proffitt's Reflections go home with students, and all of the weekly letters are posted here on the school's website.
  • A DATTCO bus has been arranged to pick up families from Traverse Square and Green Street for all PTA activities through the end of the year.
  • The Partnership Committee has met and is ready to roll out a new Social Compact at parent conferences during the week of March 28. Parents will also get a fridge magnet listing the STARR behaviors (Safe, Trustworthy, A+ Attitude, Respectful, Responsible) the school teaches and enforces in the social curriculum.
  • Mr. Proffitt personally visits Traverse Square and the Green Street Art Center as part of his after school routine to conduct parent outreach and to support the after school programs in those locations.
  • The student survey on school climate, set into motion by the Superintendent's Farm Hill Support Plan, has been conducted and is awaiting final review.

While concrete evidence of changing attitudes satisfies even the most serious doubters, also noticeable was a language change: Mr. Proffitt used words like positive, caring, responsive, pro-active, vigilant, firm, respectful, and visible to describe his job and his focus. He also spoke confidently of his "menu" of choices to address student behavioral issues as they arose, and easily rattled off more than half a dozen options available to him when students act out. Not coincidentally, no phone calls have been made to the police since Proffitt's arrival more than five weeks ago, and he insists that the atmosphere on the buses has changed for the better.


"When you expect kids to misbehave, of course they do. When you expect a high standard of behavior out of kids, then they rise to your expectations and behave well, " Proffitt explained. This pro-active focus, instead of a reactive one, seems to have won over the hearts of Farm Hill students and parents, and many are already wishing Proffitt would stay. Assistant Superintendent Barbara Senges confirmed that the search for a new principal is underway, with the "in-house" posting closing this week. This means that by contract, Senges has to post the job opening to district administrators first. Senges also talked about the selection process itself:


There will be parents on the Committee and the plan is to have finalists meet parents and staff prior to the Board making its choice. It is also our hope to have someone chosen before the end of the year, so that there will be an opportunity for the community to meet the new principal.


In the end, Proffitt admitted that a school is "only as successful as our parents' involvement," meaning that he needs parental wisdom, support, and thoughts on how to challenge and support all Farm Hill students. He went on to say, "I need to let parents know 'we need you,' and if we have their unconditional support, that's key!" Proffitt also credited Donna Merino, the District's Parent Resource Coordinator, as a key player in the effort to reach out and engage parents in the school's mission.


Now, if only Public Works could make some headway on the parking lot situation, Farm Hill might just be well on the road to sunnier days!




*In case you're curious...


I'm from the Midwest originally, and I've never experienced a school that didn't have morning announcements and a collective Pledge of Allegiance to start the day. Eighth graders at my school had the honor of reading morning announcements and leading the Pledge. It was a nerve-racking rite of passage, but an awesome one at the same time. I have to admit I was a little shocked to hear that the pledge wasn't part of the morning routine at Farm Hill. Here's what I found out after a review of state law and BOE policy:



C.G.S. Sec. 10-230. Flags in schoolrooms and schools. Policy on the reciting of the "Pledge of Allegiance".


(c) Each local and regional board of education shall develop a policy to ensure that time is available each school day for students in the schools under its jurisdiction to recite the "Pledge of Allegiance". The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to require any person to recite the "Pledge of Allegiance".


Middletown Public Schools Policy 6115 (a) Pledge of Allegiance


Each school within the district shall provide time each school day for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Such recitation is voluntary.


I'm not trying to start an argument about whether or not the Pledge forces religion on those not wishing to have it, I'm simply trying to point out that simple rituals have immense power to create community. I suppose someone could also call it brain-washing if he or she were really anti-government, but please try in good faith to see what I'm after. There was no magic used at Farm Hill to make a huge difference in a small amount of time...no pixie dust, nothing in the water, no secret formula. It was simply good customer service, plain old common sense, and a man who loves children and teachers leading in a job he absolutely adores. So let's replicate those efforts everywhere we can! We can get behind all the other fine teachers and administrators in our town, collectively expect the leadership that brings the results we desire, and push hard in the direction of the change we want [and yeah for the Pledge of Allegiance too]!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just need to clarify before Mr. Proffitt came teachers did the pledge in their rooms individually (they were supposed to) because there were no morning announcements. Now the school does it all at the same time because of the announcements which are wonderful to have! The change is absolutely amazing. Can we convince him not to retire?

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good part of this is "MBWA". Good old "Management By Walking Around".


Congratulations to all involved.

Jane said...

Mr profitt was the special Ed teacher at Keigwin this year and left in the middle of the year to farmhill.

I am extreme happy for farmhill but want people to realize that more than one parent has said to me their child is not doing so well since his departure. Yesterday a mother of a child with aspergers told me she feels like her child has no one to advocate for his needs like mr profitt did. He is no longer thriving, his grades are suffering where they weren't under Mr proffitts care.
It is important to me that people be aware that some of the most vulnerable of our children paid a price for this wonderful change at farmhill.
Some of these children can not handle change.
His retirement is a HUGE loss to our community- I wish him well in his future and pray we employ more like him.

Anonymous said...

This is good to hear. But I have a few questions. First, what happens when mr. Proffitt leaves? Will these changes stay and are they independent of the man?
Second, why aren't the policies and practices consistent in this district from school to school?
I am hopeful that when we get a new superintendent and assistant these things will be approved upon.

Anonymous said...

A DATTCO bus has been arranged to pick up families from Traverse Square and Green Street for all PTA activities through the end of the year... and who is paying for this bus to transport these parents - we the tax payers. These parents have no trouble getting themselves to the malls & to out of town dance clubs, etc. but they cannot get themselve to their child's PTO meetings - prioties people... And, why are Green Street and Traverse students being bussed to Farm Hill - all the way from the North End to South Farms, again on the tax payers dime - enough already! How nice that Farm Hill School is now a "happy place" while our taxes meters are running overtime. Nice job BOE,why not take the blood from our veins while you're at it.

Anonymous said...

Why don't we find some incentives to keep Mr. Proffitt for at least another year. Maybe he can head up a system of training treachers in the techniques that have made him so successful with the students. Though I am sure that some of his success is based on non-trainable characteristic, like love of students and total dedication to the work.

Christine O'Grady said...

The answer is to clone Mr. Profitt!!!!

Anonymous said...

Aw, rainbows & unicorns are alive and well at Farm Hill... Why do you call this a blog site when you monitor and censor comments that don't follow suit with all the mutual admiration society schmoozing & atta-boys back patting. So much for capturing the diverse opinions of your readers. Funny, I thought there was no place for censorship in journalism.

BeckyC said...

The naysayers have not met Mr. Proffitt. He is tireless in his efforts to create equality in his environment. He is kind and warm, the kids KNOW he wants the best for them. He is devoid of ego.

There are some wonderful examples in our system of how to empower and uplift children and Mr. Proffitt leads the pack.

Farm Hill, you won the lottery. Keigwin, I feel for your loss - it will be shared by many of us come the end of the year.

Mr. Proffitt, I wish you a relaxing retirement. You deserve that more than most. Thank you for your service.