July 2021 | Vol. 7 Iss. 07
FREE GRADUATION RATES UP, FAILING GRADES DOWN DUE TO TARGETED CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
T
he number of West Jordan Middle School students entering high school with credit deficits has decreased almost 90% in the past seven years. What happened seven years ago that had such an effect was that Dixie Garrison became principal at West Jordan Middle School. “Her priority is not to ‘run a school’ but to make West Jordan Middle School a community where both students and staff can thrive,” said Jeanette Gudgell, a member of WJMS’s Community Council. “She promotes empathy, encourages those who are struggling both academically and socially, and celebrates the successes of students and staff. One of the things I think is most impressive is that she lets the students know she loves them on a daily basis.” With a passion for education, Garrison encourages her staff to implement any idea that supports students. WJMS has a robust afterschool program and cultural support
groups such as Latinos in Action, Polynesian Crew and the Empathy Project. To address the failing grades, the WJMS staff developed a credit recovery plan, called Platinum Pride Time, that eliminates the need for summer school and credit recovery packets, which are seldom successful with students who have lost motivation. “Other schools might have credit recovery programs but not to the extent that we do it; I don't know of any other school that does what we do,” school counselor Wendy Petrovich said. School counselors run the program, working one-on-one or in small groups with students during the school day to complete the work needed to pass their classes. The year before Platinum Pride Time was created, the freshman class had a total of 445 failing grades. After the program was implemented, there were only 164. Just a few years later, that number was down to 50. Principal Dixie Garrison is a hands-on principal who promotes programs that support students. (West Continued page 4 Jordan Middle School Facebook)
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