Talk Priority Schools

By Len Paolillo, NEA Executive Committee

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of going back to Belmont High School in Dayton, Ohio. I first visited Belmont back in November and was instantly struck by the excitement and change evident at the school. The collaboration and cooperation between Principal David White, the staff and the Dayton Education Association that was initially so impressive has been maintained through two school years now.

Belmont Principal David White and NEA Executive Committee member Len Paolillo prepare to "sweep the alley."

On this visit I spent some time with Principal White to learn more about his leadership philosophy. He believes in looking carefully at every aspect of the school day and creating a strategic plan on how to handle each aspect. As he explained to me, “What is the first thing that happens in a school day? The kids show up. You need to welcome them.”

One of those plans involved “sweeping the alley.”

Prior to White’s arrival, Belmont was notorious for fights and chaos. One of the most dangerous areas for students was the half-mile alley leading from the school to the bus stops. Dayton doesn’t offer public school busing, so students ride on city buses. At parts, the alley is fenced in on both sides, making it impossible for a victim of an attack to escape, leading to brutal fights. read more »

By Len Paolillo, NEA Executive Committee

As you can see in the video above, I’ve had an inspiring week. I began my “listening tour” at Dunbar High School in Dayton, joined by Dayton Education Association President David Romick and Demetrice Davis and Randy Flora from the Ohio Education Association. We first met with the principal at Dunbar, Marlayna Randolph who shared some background on the School Improvement Grant (SIG) application process, and the stress of deciphering both SIG and Race to the Top requirements on a very short timeline. read more »