Partnership Principal
Gloria Erkins

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     Gloria Erkins leads a school that might surprise a first time visitor. Set in the northwest corner of urban Milwaukee, the 9-12 comprehensive Vincent High School rests on 90 wooded areas and students annually plant a garden as part of their course of studies.

   “Our campus itself makes us special,” explains Erkins. “Opened as an agriculture magnet school in 1979, the school has large playing fields, swimming and diving pools, and theater facilities along with its open space.”

   But with the open enrollment policy in Milwaukee Public Schools, students come for its diverse curriculum offerings developed to provide opportunities for all its 1,600 students. Vincent High is designed around three small learning communities—environmental sciences and natural resources, health and human services, and career and community service.

   While students receive core instruction in all of the learning communities, each provides a specific area to build on a youngster’s interest.

   “About one-third of our students are in each of the three communities,” says Erkins. “Our students come from all over the city, and it makes it easier for everyone when they sign up for an area of interest.”

   The career and community service learning community has a number of programs connected with the community and allows students to become involved in community service. A number of the Vincent students work with Special Olympic students in Milwaukee elementary schools and are involved in the community-wide Special Olympic competitions hosted at Vincent.

   The health and human services community focuses on wellness, eating habits, diet, and the numerous social issues teenagers face today.

   In the environmental sciences and natural resources area Vincent students participate in a partnership with the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, where they attend classes for a one week period during the summer on the college campus and university professors visit Vincent during the regular school year. Milwaukee’s Private Industry Council finds summer jobs for those youngsters, many at the state fair.

   There’s also an automotive component to the program in environmental sciences and natural history since students learn to use heavy equipment in planting their garden.

  Additionally, Vincent High School has one of the top-rated Fine Arts and Speech programs in the Milwaukee area. Its Forensic Team and Drum line are ranked number one annually in forensic and drum line competition in the city and in the region. Its large ensemble choir and growing orchestra band are gaining increased recognition for performances at after-school parent nights and Inter-school competitions.

  “This is exciting,” she says. “Two years ago there was no choir. Today there are over 100 students in the choir.”

  While Erkins is extremely happy with the job she has held for 13 years, she does face three challenges. The first comes from success.

  “We are a growing school, having increased in enrollment by about 10 percent last year,” she recalls. “That’s difficult at the start of the school year because of staffing. We are projected to be at one level then receive 100 more students than we expected. We have to look for a number of new staff members after the school year has begun.”

   Another major challenge is “being everything to everybody.”

   “School is a safe haven for many teenagers, and we are asked to support not only them but also their parents.”

  “It’s also a task to get teachers who are certified to work in and remain in our programs,” Erkins says. “We are surrounded by small cities, and many young teachers come to Milwaukee to get experience. Once they have it, they go back home.” Most of the 95 Vincent High teachers have eight to 20 years experience.

  But there’s one thing that overcomes all the challenges of being a principal in Erkins’ mind.

  “I truly like being where I can make a difference in the lives of a lot of kids,” she says. “I love it when our graduates come back after being in college for a while and talk about how successful they are. That makes me feel as if I’m making a difference. Especially after handling a discipline issue, when I can speak with a successful graduate, I remember why I’m doing this.”

    She also believes The Principals’ Partnership is making a difference in her professional life.

   “As one of the first participants going back to the Summer Institute in Lincolnshire, I know what a difference The Partnership is making. Having the Institutes in July makes them especially valuable. By the en of the school year, you are burnt. At the Institute we become rejuvenated.

   “The collaboration with other principals, our regional meetings, and the attention from our consultants demonstrates that people care for us. High school principals get beat up so much that a feeling of caring makes a big difference in our lives.”

More information about Vincent High School can be found at www2.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/vincent/, and Erkins can be contacted at erkinsgb@mail.milwaukee.k12.wi.us.

 
Past Focus Principals:

Focus- Ron Sing
Focus- Bill Hittman
Focus- Jeanene Sampson
Focus- David Gilligan
Focus - Joy Walton
Focus- William Roberts
Focus- Franklyn Wesley
Focus- Magdalena Gutierrez
Focus- Kent Bergum
Focus- William "Rick" Johnson
Focus- Ken Ball
Focus- Dan Tenuta
Focus- Charlesetta Deason
Focus- Rene Posey
Focus- Stuart Baker
Focus- Paul Smith
Focus- Christie Gestvang
Focus- John A. Butterfield
Focus- Janie Hill Hatton
Focus- Steve Warmack
Focus- Glen Clark
Focus- Kittie D. Weston-Knauer
Focus- William Dunn
Focus - Richard Pemberton
Focus- Dr. Anthony Spivey
Focus - John Weigel