Highland Park, MI
By Allen Raymond, Publisher, and Patricia Broderick, Editorial Director

Teaching K-8 learned the proper way to iron a shirt from this industrious kindergartner.

The editors of this magazine have visited 142 schools in 44 states but, surprisingly, nary a school in Michigan – until now. But, oh my, it was worth the wait.

We know, of course, that Michigan has many wonderful elementary schools. We could have gone to Ann Arbor, perhaps, or Lansing or Detroit, but in Highland Park's "Barber School of the Gifted and Talented" we uncovered a gem of a school located in a tiny 2.96 square-mile, economically challenged city - very challenged - completely surrounded by Detroit's 143 square miles and its almost one million people.

A certain amount of serendipity brought us to Highland Park, and it took only a few phone calls and we were talking with Judith Wimberly, principal of the Barber school. Bingo!

It's one of five schools in Highland Park - one preK-5 and two preK-8, one high school (9-12) and a "Career Academy" for 16-19 year-olds who have not yet graduated from high school.

A few moments on the phone with Judy and we knew Highland Park was where we wanted to be. It's a school, we would soon learn, that has attracted some of the finest, most committed teachers anywhere in the country. For us, that's saying a lot because, as we indicated earlier, we've been in a lot of schools.

The teachers at Barber are there because they want to be; Principal Judy Wimberly makes sure of that. When selecting teachers, she strives to hire what someone described as "the real McCoy." And that's what she's done.

No "faint hearts" here. If that means finding teachers who are deeply committed - and they are - she's done that. If it means finding individuals able to teach in an unbelievably challenging environment, she's done that, too. If it means finding teachers who will stick around for the long haul, she's also done that.

Teaching at Barber School is exciting and rewarding, but it's not for the faint of heart. Judy Wimberly runs a tight ship. Soft-spoken and small in stature, her mile-wide smile plus her caring demeanor hide the intensity of someone determined to make this the finest elementary school in Michigan.

If anyone can do it, she can - and she will.

Behind the façade of "this little lady," as she's affectionately described by staff and parents, lurks the discipline and no-nonsense voice worthy of any Marine Corps Drill Sergeant.

Dr. Betty Davis, the principal's coach (second from right), and Judith Wimberly, principal of Barber School of the Gifted and Talented in Highland Park, MI, describe to Teaching K-8's Patricia Broderick and Allen Raymond the joy of making AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) for two years in a row. No small feat for the 524 kids in this inner-city oasis.

Judy is everywhere in the school, except in her office. She drops in on classes, is visible in the halls, and all of the 524 children know her by name. And, as you would expect, she knows their names, too. Following her around - with her ubiquitous clipboard and its several lists - is like following a determined whirlwind.

The challenge. Judy came to Barber School because it was in a sorry state and the city's School Board wanted to turn it around. It had poor test scores, poor attendance, poor morale, poor funding…you name it. A lot needed to be accomplished and the School Board thought Judy was the person qualified to pull it off.

Judy is now in her fourth year at Barber, and her enthusiasm and determination have helped entice to Highland Park an almost entirely new teaching staff that is excited and committed.

From music and art, to math, science, English/language arts and social studies, it's apparent that professionalism is the key to everything that happens at Barber. And, when one looks at the teachers' weekly or monthly schedules, it's abundantly clear no detail is left to chance.

Deborah McKenzie during social studies helps a first grade child navigate a map.

One yardstick we've used over the years to gauge a school's commitment is the depth of its teachers' immersion in professional development. And, a look at any teacher's schedule indicates Barber scores high in this area.

Over the years, as we've visited schools, we've observed – and it's easy to uncover this as one walks the halls and visits classrooms in any school - that kids usually have a "good read" on the professionalism of their teachers. The result is reflected in the way kids act…good teachers bring out the best in kids. At Barber the teachers are very good, and the kids know it.

No matter how good things are, however, Judy is not satisfied unless the parents are in school, too – not as students, but in their role of parent or guardian. Here's one technique, used by Parent Liaison Terrilynn Gause, to bring parents to a get-to-know-your-school event: Free manicures by Career Academy students, for every female parent or guardian who came to school. For some moms it was their first professional manicure.

But that's just one way the professional staff encouraged parents to "drop in." There are also many monthly meetings and activities designed to keep the parents engaged.

Librarian/media specialist Vanessa Quinn works on building vocabulary.

Big gains. During our visit, Dr. Marie Vitale, the math coach, pointed out that the kids were really doing well in math. Later, when we were studying the statistics, the "achievement change" - which "measures how well a school has improved in student achievement" - gave statistical validity to her statement. The school's math achievement change was only 17.9% in 2003, then 30.4% in 2004, 54.29% in 2005 and - get this - a marvelous 75.0% in 2006.

One day a month Highland Park teachers are offered in-service math training by the math coach and, obviously, the results are dramatic.

The coaches. A word about coaches at Barber School: Even the principal has a coach because Michigan state law requires that any school not making AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) for two consecutive years must hire a coach - funded by the state - to assist the principal.

Judy, plunging elbow-deep into the changes she wanted to institute at Barber, was thrilled to learn that Dr. Betty Davis, a former principal and principal's coach at Barber, would remain as her coach. Four years later Dr. Davis, who is president of her own consulting company, is as excited over what's going on at Barber as are the parents and teachers.

The success of the coach program is an example, we believe, of how professionals working together can bring out the best in each other, thus enriching the classroom learning environment for all of the kids.

The irony of it all. Incidentally, there is irony in success: Barber School is in danger of losing funding for its coaches because it has achieved AYP status for both 2004 and 2005.

Meanwhile, the good work at Barber goes on. There are, for instance, "The Twelve Non-Negotiable Rules and Regulations" for students, which include "attending school daily, no gum chewing or candy (even in the cafeteria), learning to disagree without being disagreeable," etc. And each student signs a "contract." Of course, there are no cell phones or iPods and, yes, a dress code is spelled out in great detail.

Behavior is a team effort, and there are no valid excuses to breach the rules.
When Judy moves about the building she has a special "signal" she uses to acknowledge well-behaved kids, kids helping each other or kids who earn a good grade.

Silently, she gives each child a "thumbs up," and children acknowledge the compliment with their own "thumbs up." Nice.

Teaching character. School assemblies, focusing on character, are held biweekly and accolades are announced. Also, once each month, the assembly focuses on a virtue from the social studies curriculum. In November it was "Truth."

There may not be instruments for all the kids, but there is a drum line, and the discipline of these sixth-grade drummers was amazing.

But, does all of this work?

Indeed it does, as demonstrated in its MEAP (Michigan Educational Assessment Program) scores, which continue to climb.

So, with a supportive central office, wonderful coaches, a highly qualified staff, a dynamic principal, plus supportive and enthusiastic parents and kids, we'd give this school an "A++."

It's a school of which any city could be proud. It's an oasis for kids, it's a beacon for parents who want the best for their kids, and it's a springboard to help those children go forth to help make this a better world.

Be proud, Highland Park. Be proud.

November/December, 2006, Vol.37, No.3