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Schools Chief Pick Sees Enemy in 'Anonymity'
John Deasy, who was tapped to lead the Prince George's school system, at McKinley Elementary School in California.
(Photos By Stephanie Diani For The Washington Post)
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Like others in the Los Angeles area, the campus has witnessed recent racial tensions, often between Latino and black students. Sometimes fights break out. Anti-black graffiti roiled the school three weeks ago. In response, teachers posted fliers that assert: "Hate is not my value."
CEO Ilene Straus said the school's reorganization has helped administrators stay in touch with students before frictions ignite on a wide scale. "Our challenge is, can you get small enough to know kids and build connections?" Straus said.
Each house is home to about 550 students and two dozen teachers. Students stay within their houses for most ninth- and 10th-grade classes but take honors and AP classes across the campus in their final two years.
The school ranks among the top 200 in the nation in AP participation, and Latino and black students are taking the college-level courses and tests in greater numbers, officials said.
Math teacher Geoff Tipper said 90 of his 110 AP statistics students last year took the test, with more than half passing. "I can do everything but force them to take it," he said. "Almost all of them will."
Prince George's has raised participation in recent years, but in general AP has not been one of the system's highest priorities. That may change under Deasy.
The county also has several high schools with 2,000 to 3,000 students, some of which are struggling academically.
Here, the Samohi reorganization dispersed faculty departments that previously were consolidated in various wings. Some teachers say that they have less contact with department colleagues.
But Tipper said he is now in closer touch with teachers from other disciplines. He said they talk frequently about problems facing specific students. He also has a clear and close point of contact with the administration -- his house principal. Before, he said, navigating the administration was bewildering. "I honestly didn't know who to go to with my questions," Tipper said.
Some students said the new arrangement gives them a sense of home within their home.
"When I first got here, it was humongous. I was intimidated," said Sharona Daneshrad, a senior who is a student government leader. "Now it's a much more personal and intimate environment."
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