Focus on Intelligence and Character Preteens at Houston Middle are learning that character development can make them better students. By Jane Schneider
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hat does it take to create a positive middle school environment where harmony reigns and bullying is discouraged? If you ask the leaders at Houston Middle School, the answer is fostering social and emotional skills while setting high expectations for students to achieve academically. But how do you create an environment that fosters such growth? It goes back to some inspiration principal Liz Dias gained several years ago. When educator Ron Clark, founder of Ron Clark Academy, gave a motivational speech to Shelby County School teachers, his words lit a fire in Dias’ heart. Then an SCS assistant principal, Dias knew his message of innovation and creativity was one that would help middle school students grow. So when she became the principal at Germantown’s Houston Middle School, Dias decided her new position presented the perfect opportunity to act on Clark’s message. At Houston Middle, “Social and emotional development comes first,” observes Carla Christian, one of two professional school counselors on staff who’ve worked alongside Dias to shape the school’s new direction. What they learned from Clark was that while academic rigor is important,
so too is character development. After hearing his message, Dias decided to refocus the school by following his tenets. In a nutshell, the message is simple. “We feel we can change the world one kiddo at a time,” says Dias with a smile. Dias had a perfect supporter in school counselor Carla Christian, who was named Tennessee’s Middle School Counselor of the Year for 2017. Like Dias, Christian recognizes the importance of helping middle schoolers grow emotionally. Carla Christian
Christian says in order for a child to learn, he must be ready to learn. “And some of that learning is about how to overcome adversity, whether it’s dealing with divorce or ADHD or peer pressure,” says Christian. “Kids have to learn how to overcome these things and there are things we can do to be intentional to help them.” Educators at Houston recognize that the middle school years can be challenging. Students often come to a big middle school from more intimate elementary schools, are beginning puberty and learning how to juggle more academic demands. The notion of focusing on strengthening students’ social and emotion intelligence made sense, says Dias, who was also recognized as Tennessee’s Middle School Administrator of the Year in 2016.
“Social and emotional development comes first,” observes Carla Christian, one of two professional school counselors on staff who’ve worked alongside Dias to shape the school’s new direction. 14 go! GERMANTOWN
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