New report clearly demonstrates
Value of a high school education

     While educators have long argued that when local schools are successful, local communities benefit; there’s now clear evidence that is the case. A new report, “The Economic Benefits from Halving the Dropout Rate: A Boom to Businesses in the Nation’s Largest Metropolitan Areas,” released in January by the Alliance for Excellent Education demonstrates growth in many economic areas from a lower dropout rate.

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From carpets to teachers
John got West Salem going

    When Oregon’s Ed John opened West Salem High School eight years ago, he had the opportunity to be named principal one year before the doors swung open and “selected carpet, textbooks, and garbage cans.” But the most exciting task was picking a faculty that “wanted to do good things for kids.”

     “One of the neat things about starting a school is you get to hire a totally new staff,” he recalls. “I was looking for three things in ou rteaching staff—experience, passion about their curriculum and knowledge of how to teach it, and having a heart for kids. The latter is the most important. If you can develop a relationship with kids, you will be successful. The first two qualities can be learned; the latter you must have.”

     John, who had worked as a principal in the Salem-Keizer School District before being named the leader of the sixth high school in the district, initially selected an office manager and an assistant principal, and that trio set about developing a team that would challenge students in a welcoming manner.

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