Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Principal of the Year Minnie Goins of Seawell Elementary School and Assistant Principal of the Year Jaimi West of McDougal Middle School stopped by 97.9 The Hill’s studios to chat with Andrew Stuckey on Monday. Goins, West and Stuckey discussed the highlights and challenges that defined this past school year in Orange County.
Check out highlights of the conversation below, which are lightly edited for clarity, and click here to listen to the full conversation!
Andrew Stuckey: I wanted to start by giving each of you an opportunity to talk about — as we’re getting close to the end of the school year now — some of the successes and highlights of the year that you’ve seen so far.
Minnie Goins: Well, I would have to say that building on the collective efficacy of our teachers has really been a powerful movement and opportunity for us, in that we begin the year looking at: what are the strengths? What are the things that every staff member brings to the table, from our cafeteria staff to our teachers, instructional assistants, custodians, and how can we maximize those things and lean on those traits, those skills in order to make our learning community richer for all of our students? As we have taken the time to learn about each other and to experience those things and to be able to really maximize on all of those different [things], it has really been beneficial for everyone. And then for our students to also replicate that: what are the things that our peers are bringing to the table and how can we highlight those things instead of looking at just the differences? And even if there are differences, how do those things make my life richer or better for having known or talked to, worked with [and] collaborated with that person? That’s something that I think has been a real, real highlight for us this school year.
Jaimi West: In the secondary level, we have so many different clubs and activities and sports for students to be a part of. That brings that sense of joy that we’re trying to accomplish on a daily basis. Having sixth graders start sports this year and seeing them excited about that. Last year our theater production was masked; this year they were unmasked. That was getting us back to that sense of normal that the kids were really craving, the staff’s craving, the families are craving. So we have been able to enrich the experience of the regular school day by having all these clubs come back into action and productions. Just ways for students to connect to the school. So that’s been a huge highlight of mine this year.
Andrew Stuckey: You were both recently honored as Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year. I know it’s a little bit awkward to brag on yourself, but if you could: tell me why you feel like you received that honor!
Jaimi West: I think that people probably see how much I really value education. I’m a parent in the community and also a teacher in this district for 16 years now. I care not only about our school, but other schools. So I’ve developed some deep relationships with the other assistant principals. There [are] a lot of new assistant principals in the district. And so this being my fourth year, I’m kind of [a] veteran, which is funny. I will definitely lend a hand, help them understand something better. I feel that may have been one of the reasons I got some votes there.
Minnie Goins: I guess I would have to say the consistency on teaching and learning and valuing people. Seeing folks beyond the numbers. While we have a certain number of staff members, a certain number of students, and even academic scores, my goal and my focus has always been: what about the people? What about who they are as a person beyond just a number, beyond just a classroom student, beyond just a teacher? And then making sure that that is highlighted and that my actions align with the valuing of people, but then also valuing teaching and learning throughout each and every day.
Jaimi West: Minnie just happens to be my administrator when I was a teacher in the district, and that is 100 percent true. We always talk about valuing student voice and teacher voice, and to do that you have to listen. And knowing her and having worked with her before, that listening piece is so amazing and she’s very good at it.
📻 Tune in at 4:30! Thanks to @WCHLChapelboro for having Principal of the Year Minnie Goins (Seawell ES) and Assistant Principal of the Year Jaimi West (@McDougleMiddle) on to talk about highlights and challenges during this month’s “Speaking of Schools” segment. 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/ANSVVkODg9
— Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (@chccs) May 15, 2023
Andrew Stuckey: The challenges that public schools face right now are pretty well-documented. Aside from from the standard challenges that we were facing when I was a teacher, we’ve got that added mental health crisis. We’ve got a staffing crisis across the board, not just with certified staff, but with classified as well. I’m wondering kind of challenges you’re seeing at your specific buildings, and how you’ve had to be creative to address those challenges?
Minnie Goins: Dealing with the trauma of both students and the adults in our learning community and dealing with it in a [sustained] way. Because you have to train and equip people with the resources to do that while you are also meeting the needs of those students. But you’re also making sure that you don’t forget about the needs of the adults who are in that space, as well as the families. That’s one of the things [that’s] ongoing. How do we do that and continue to have the joy [and] continue to be able to support one another as we ebb and flow throughout all the different traumas and experiences that people have had, but also have them feel successful and be proud of who they are as a person? And that’s sometimes quite challenging, doing that in a sustained manner throughout a school year, even with other things happening along the way.
Jaimi West: I think for us, something that’s getting better and has throughout the year is transportation and buses and really understanding how interconnected that is into so many different aspects of the school day. Some families aren’t able to get their students to school if their bus isn’t running. Field trips don’t happen. The teachers have these really engaging experiences that they want to do with their students, and the transportation isn’t there. But I am happy to report that that has seemed to improve tremendously in the last couple months and people are taking field trips and we’re having a lot [fewer] bus delays and cancellations. But it’s been a challenge to navigate this year.
Andrew Stuckey: I wanted to make sure you both get a chance to mention anything that we haven’t gotten to yet. Please shout out anything going on at your schools!
Jaimi West: Coming off Teacher Appreciation Week, I just want to shout out the teachers that are coming in every day. One of the other challenges has been substitutes and things like that. Teachers have felt guilty to take a day off here and there, but they’ve been coming and showing up for the kids. And then also coming off Teacher Appreciation Week, how much the families make a huge difference in the support in helping us appreciate the teachers.
Minnie Goins: I feel like last week has brought back a sense of belonging and community that, post-COVID, we’ve struggled to get going. Definitely our community events, our Global Traditions event, have really helped to rebuild that structure. And last week I think was a capstone opportunity for everyone to get to show those acts of kindness and gratitude towards one another.
Featured image via Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
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