(February 19, 2014) Jackson, Tenn.- In the Jackson-Madison County School System Central Office board room, Superintendent Dr. Verna Ruffin laid out plans for a middle school academic academy.
There have been details released throughout the past two months, today was the formal press conference that laid out many details.
Dr. Ruffin explained to us what it means to have a school within a school. She said, “It places the focus on the entire school, with emphasis on a particular program for a particular outcome.
She continued, “For us, it’s the academic outcome where students can potentially leave that middle school not only ready for high school, but already, perhaps, acquiring some high school credits.”
“While it provides a rigorous curriculum for all the children that reside there,” Dr. Ruffin said, “it provides more enhanced, specific studies for those that are ready for the academic rigor.”
The New Academic Academy for Middle School will be housed inside of the existing Northeast Middle School. Dr. Ruffin said, “The entire school should look and feel much different than it ever has before.”
The academy will be open for all students to apply. All students who want to attend must complete an application process which includes a writing sample.
Students living in Madison County and who are eligible for the Gifted Education in Madison County Schools Programs, or GEMS, will be accepted.
Students who have excellent grades and high scores on standardized tests may also be accepted into the academy.
Students can also gain high school credits in certain classes. Dr. Ruffin said that, “When you start making high school credits open and available to middle school students, that challenges your high schools to really look at their course offerings, because for students that will go into high school with high school credits, that means for the course offerings in mathematics, perhaps sciences, and foreign languages, have to meet the needs of that student once they arrive there.”
She continued, “So, it pushes and stretches the high school to look at ways that they are going to be able to make their school a place where kids can continue to grow and learn.”
Teresa Tritt was named the new principal the New Academic Academy for Middle School. Tritt has ten years of experience to prepare her to fill the position.
She told us, “I have had ten years of administrative experience in education within Jackson-Madison County. Seven of those years have been here with our school district.”
Tritt continued, “I’ve served as the Alexander Elementary School principal for two years, I’ve worked at our district office supervising elementary school, and I’ve also been [principal] at Thelma Barker Elementary for the last 4 years. So now I get the awesome task of moving and working with our Middle School students.”
Dr. Ruffin said that there has not been a replacement principal for Thelma Barker Elementary School announced yet and they will begin accepting applications shortly.
Tritt discussed some of the preparation that needed to go into the process. “The first thing that needed to happen was that there needed to be a vision for the school and that came forth from our school board, from our Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruffin, several key central office staff members, Dr. Vivian Williams, Dr. Versie Hamlett, and many others who have served on the committee, along with educators and parents. All of them have come together to help shape a vision of what they wanted this academic academy to be like.”
She continued, “I get the tremendous opportunity to capture that vision, if you will, and then be able to move forward with turning it into a reality of what it’s going to be like for our students.”
One parent is already excited about the opportunity. Katie Pace, executive director of JDDC and parent of two, said, “I’m ecstatic. I think it’s a great thing for those students who need to continue getting challenged. “
“It’s a question we ask,” Pace continued, “leaving our children in public schools as they age and move forward. The fact that they’re going to get the opportunity to be pushed and do their best, thrills me as a parent.”
Northwest will still offer sports, band, chorus, and art as well as different electives in addition to academic clubs. The programs have yet to be determined, but are projected to happen for the 2014-2015 school year.
Before the two application dates, there are three Parent and Community Forums. The first is February 24 at Thelma Barker Elementary School at 6PM. The next forum is the following day, February 25, at Isaac Lane Elementary School at 6PM. The final forum is at Denmark Elementary at 6PM at Denmark Elementary School.
March 1 and March 4 are the two applications days. The March 1 Academic Academy Registration day begins at 9AM and concludes at 3PM. It is located at North Side High School in the South Campus Library.
The March 4 Academic Academy Registration Day is the final day. It will be held at the School Service Center (310 North Parkway) from 5PM to 7PM.
They recommend at least one hour to complete the entire application process.
