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A Concentrated Approach to Exams
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Then, last week, she said that the special lessons had been halted.
Another Montgomery middle school principal, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of her being fired, described the pressures that she and others face:
"You have to be smart about what you do," she said. "Because, realistically, I don't want to think I could lose my job, but I could lose my job if the school doesn't make [adequate yearly progress] for too long. Realistically, we could all lose our jobs."
Wood serves a community of single-family homes and apartments typical in a dense suburb. Its student population is approximately 44 percent white, 23 percent Hispanic, 19 percent black, 12 percent Asian and 1 percent Native American. One student out of four qualifies for federal meal subsidies.
Last spring, 68 percent of Wood students rated at least proficient on state tests, surpassing the state average of 65 percent. But the school failed to make adequate yearly progress, the federal standard for success, because special-education students, those with limited English proficiency and those receiving federal meal subsidies fell behind in reading scores.
Foose came to Wood to set things right.
A veteran principal, who retired last spring, had allowed discipline to lapse, said two Wood employees and Cullison, who has spoken to other staffers.
The laxity extended to testing season, one teacher said: When students sat for the assessments, "kids who were fully capable of passing, they just didn't care."
Parents saw immediate improvement under Foose. Student suspensions fell by more than half after she arrived.
"She is very direct. She is very focused. She is very determined," said Pauline Lamberg, Wood's PTA president.
The principal's approach to state testing was, by all accounts, focused and determined.
Test preparations began in earnest, the staffers said, on the day faculty returned from winter break. In separate meetings with the English and math teachers, Foose handed out lists of "subgroup" students and outlined her plan:
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