*This year The Principals' Partnership
will include a new segment with the principal focus articles -- a short
audio piece in which the featured principal further explains his/her
school and leadership philosophy.
You can hear the audio by simply clicking on the icon.
Listen to Brent!
(Click
here for a print friendly version.)
Each morning when Brent Curtice goes to work as principal of Colorado’s
Paonia Junior-Senior High School, he has “an adrenalin high.” That’s
a good thing for his 280 students.
“I get a rush every day I go to work,” says Curtice, who is in his
16th
year as principal at Paonia JSHS. ”You just can’t buy the type of
entertainment I find at school. I love the energy the kids bring. It’s
stimulating and fun to be in any of our classrooms and see master teachers at
work. You can get addicted to it.”
Curtice, a former Met Life-NASSP Colorado Principal of the Year, is proud of
the diversity and success of his program. With a student body that is 90 percent
Anglo with 28 percent of the youngsters on the free and reduced lunch program,
Paonia has developed a reputation as one of the best performing schools of its
size in Colorado.
“We have finished in the top 10 on ACT scores for small schools of our
size in
Colorado for many years and always do well on the state exams,” Curtice
explains. “Eighty percent of our graduates go on to higher education, and
the rest move into the job market or take additional vocational education.”
Students in this small, Western Central Colorado, rural community come from families
who work in coal mining, ranching, and business.
“Our families are a mix of wealthy and non-wealthy,” Curtice says. “We
cover the whole gamut and are as diverse now as we have ever been.”
But there’s one common thread among the student body—an expectation
to achieve whether academically or in student activities. Curtice reports a culture
of “high expectations” at the school that has developed during many
years.
One key is the staff of 14 fulltime teachers who Curtice describes simply as “awesome.” Half
of the teachers hold master’s degrees.
“Two-thirds of our teachers are in their first six years at Paonia High
School, and one third has taught at Paonia for more than 10 years, which is a
great blend.
Our more experienced teachers have become master teachers to the others and brought
them to a higher level.”
That hasn’t always been the case as almost half of the teaching staff retired
during a three year period seven years ago. Curtice faced quite a challenge replacing
so many quality instructors during that short period of time, but with the support
of his district office, he identified the best teachers and coaches he had met
and “went after them.” That effort resulted in today’s “awesome,
dynamic and dedicated” staff.
Curtice and his instructional staff recognize the importance of test scores in
today’s society and have worked to provide their students to best chance
to succeed on their scores.
“Our staff is highly focused and understands the value of high scores.
Simply,
the higher a student’s scores, the more options he or she has whether it’s
scholarship potential or the number of colleges that may accept them. Those scores
are the final evidence of what you have learned.”
One highlight of the academic program is the chance for Paonia students to gain
college credit while still in high school. Through a partnership with Mesa State
College in Grand Junction or Western State College, Paonia students can enroll
in courses on those campuses or take college level classes right at the high
school. At the high school, if students achieve a C or higher, they receive college
credit, and by graduation a Paonia youngster could have earneed 36 hours of college
credit. College level classes are offered in English, Algebra, Calculus, technology
and occasionally speech and other mathematics courses.
They also can select from Advanced Placement classes in Physics, English and
a number of mathematics subjects.
The Paonia staff has built a commitment to meeting the needs of all students,
whether those who qualify for gifted and talented or those who need additional
help to succeed in the regular program
“We have arranged our week so that on Monday through Wednesday, we have
a normal
seven-period day. On Thursday and Friday we have a 90-minute block schedule,
allowing teachers to go into more depth with students, providing additional challenges
for those who have already conquered the material and additional help to those
who need more support.”
While academics at Paonia JSHS have earned high marks, Curtice also is proud
of his student activity program.
“Eighty percent of our students participate in activities,” he says. “This
is an important part of their education as they learn how to manage their time,
how to work with people of different abilities, and that life isn’t always
fair. In sports, for example, you can do everything right, but not always win
the contest.
“A quality activities program also benefits the school. Most of our students
have something to work on all the time. Our kids are busy, and we have very few
discipline
issues.”
Last year Paonia’s student activities program was ranked as the second
best in its size category in Colorado by Mile High Sports magazine. In the last
15 years, Paonia teams have competed in 15 state championships and have won seven
titles. Three of their coaches have been named to the hall of fame for their
sport.
The Paonia marching band has competed in state competitions for the last five
years and our vocal music program produces more all-state performers than any
other school of its size.
“Our activities program is the heart and soul of our school,” Curtice
believes. “It
gives our students the motivation to compete academically and has led to a culture
of high expectations. Our students expect to do well and that their peers will
do well.”
Both in academics and activities Paonia JSHS is demonstrating that size isn’t
everything when it comes to a successful educational program.
The Principals’ Partnership has been a great asset to Curtice as he has
worked to help Paonia students and staff succeed.
“The Partnership is one of the most incredible programs that I have seen
for high school principals. Plus, it comes at a time when school leaders are
thirsting
for professional development and collaboration. It has been a life changing experience
for me in my professional life.”
To discover more about Paonia JSHS, visit the school’s website, www.deltaschools.com/paonia7-12and click on “schools.” Curtice can be reached at bcurtice@deltaschools.com.
Past
Focus Principals
