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Energetic principal nurtures, grows high school from ‘D’ to ‘A’
July 08, 2011By: Ashira Morris
Tallahassee, Fla.
A day in the life of Michelle Gayle, proud principal of James S. Rickard High School, requires a sturdy pair of walking shoes.
“You can’t run a high school from an office,” Gayle said.
Gayle, who holds a doctorate in education from Florida A&M University, brings her energy to the entire campus; no part of the school is overlooked.
She visits the ESE classroom, where the students have been growing an extensive vegetable garden for the past two years. Eggplants, heirloom tomatoes, okra and cucumbers are now sprouting from what used to be infertile soil.
She calls to personally thank the man who fixed the air conditioning in her office, where she was working in 93-degree heat over the weekend.
Gayle checks in on students taking credit retrieval classes over the summer to get ahead on courses or replace failing grades. Before she came to Rickards in June of 2006, the program was underutilized. Now, over 100 students are registered for summer courses through Adult & Community Education and 21st Century Credit Retrieval.
At noon, Gayle speaks at Desmond Gibson’s signing ceremony celebrating his scholarship to play basketball for Flagler College. Gibson was a member of the Raiders 2010 state championship basketball team.
In a rare moment in her office chair, Gayle discusses a calendar for Rickards’ recently revived chorus, drama and keyboard programs with Marty Lamar.
Her obvious dedication to Rickards cultivates a sense of pride among students and staff.
“Saying you’re a Raider means something,” Gayle said. “Parents, scholars and the community need to feel good about the school.”
The Leon County Schools Survey shows the results of her tireless work. In 2009, only 56 percent of Rickards students surveyed felt that “an atmosphere of respect, trust and pride exists in the school.” By 2011, that number rose to 77 percent.
To demonstrate their commitment to all aspects of the school, Gayle and her administrative team make a point to attend as many school functions as possible: tennis matches, chorus concerts and IB banquets are all graced with her presence.
Every Thursday, Gayle and her three assistant principals wear the JROTC uniform complete with combat boots. They call themselves “The A-Team.”
Gayle is eager to start traditions that will bolster school pride. This year, there was a senior video for the first time. Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi visited the school and painted a mural with the students. The performing arts department set down roots for a strong future.
“It’s knowing what you want and working alongside other to meet those goals,” Gayle said.
Last year, Rickards met a monumental goal: raising its school accountability grade from a D to an A.
“First,” Gayle said, “you look at where the school was. And second, you know where you want to take it.”
Rickards students in the lowest 25 percent made the biggest gains, improving from 57 to 71 points. To codify the steps Rickard needs to take to maintain an A on its report card, a 47 page School Improvement Plan was written. It encompasses attendance, teacher qualifications and FCAT performance. Each goal is detailed step by step, from anticipated behaviors to evaluation tools.
At Gayle’s school, students are always “scholars.” Her choice of words is intentional. She expects the teenagers at Rickards to achieve their full potential.
Gayle has a personal relationship with her scholars. She firmly believes that “you have to know your kids and know what they need.” As she walks around the campus, she calls out energetic “good mornings” to everyone in eyesight.
In the halls, Gayle greets them by name and slows her purposeful gait to match theirs. She asks them how classes are going. The students respond, eager to tell her of their successes or ask questions for clarification.
“She is one of the most dedicated people to the student that I have met in 40 years of education,” said Fred Varn, a Rickards Success Coach. “She really cares about each individual kid.”
Varn spent 12 years on the Leon County School Board and has worked the gamut of education, from elementary to college. His position as a Success Coach is part of a motivational program implemented by Gayle that aims to keep students on a positive academic track.
“They all have ability,” Varn said. “A lot of these kids just need a little encouragement.”
One of the countless students Gayle encounters in a day had taken the ACT the weekend before. He asks when he will receive his scores. The sincerity in his voice is clear; he is obviously concerned about his scores and how they will affect his future plans.
“That’s the big thing: setting goals,” Gayle said.
She enjoys helping students set and achieve their goals.
In August, Emanuel Richardson will be drum major for Rickards High School’s nationally recognized band. Without encouragement from principal Dr. Michelle Gayle, he may have decided that balancing school and music was too difficult.
“She’s pretty much the reason why I’m drum major,” Richardson said. Gayle assured him that he had leadership skills and could handle academics and percussion.
“It’s not the meetings, it’s not the paperwork,” Gayle said. “It’s the kids I’m here for.”
At the end of the day, Gayle slips her feet into Crocs sandals. However, the rest is short-lived. She is on the steering committee of Combined Charities, a district-wide outreach to the United Way.
That’s just the catch: there is no “end of the day” for Dr. Michelle Gayle. She is the proud principal of Rickards High School all the time.