Youngstown teacher gives the Alpha School of Excellence an A

There are often times when voices which want to be heard are silenced by the possibility of future unwanted consequences, and there are times when the need to voice the clamor within the heart must be listened to. Today I find myself at the latter juncture, and I hope you will allow me to speak to my Alpha family publicly.

I have been a Youngstown City School teacher since 1994. I was particularly excited to join the Alpha School of Excellence when I understood that the job description expected teachers and administration to work together as a team to improve the quality of education offered to the students in a gender specific setting. The experience has been enlightening and bittersweet.

I have worked at Alpha for four years. I wanted to work with the young men because I knew how difficult school had been for my own son. I wanted to be part of the team that was going to work to make the educational experience better for other young men. The greatest obstacle that I faced, and perhaps the team faced, was the constant change in the make-up of the school. Each year we encountered major configuration changes, such as the mid-year schedule change this past December. These changes usually carried with them a domino effect of varying consequences. Most programs need a period of at least three years of stability and consistency — time to learn, reflect, revise and improve — to show valid results. Alpha did gain national recognition during the last two years for our efforts at character education, and I believe we could have made a greater difference had Alpha been granted the time and stability so necessary for continued improvement.

Now there is a possibility that Alpha will not be moving to the new Wilson Middle School and that it will not even exist as a school at all. If that is the case, then my heart is saddened. Being a part of the Alpha family has been the best experience of my YCS career. It has been my privilege to work with my principal, Jerome Harrell, an administrator who pours his heart and soul into helping young men and women grow in character, self-confidence and self-reliance; an administrator who listens, who lives by his word and his conscience. He is a man of great patience who constantly sees the best in all of us, even when we fail to see it in ourselves or others. I am also glad to have been a part of the Alpha family, fellow teachers and all support staff (office, custodial, kitchen, tutors) who worked together to share ideas, solve problems and encourage one another in many ways.

So, to my Alpha family, if we find ourselves working together as an Alpha school this coming year, let us make it the best year yet. If we find that circumstances require us to take different paths let us recall the launch we stated every morning “Failure is not an option, failure is not an option! Discipline is necessary, self-discipline is mandatory.” Remind yourself, “We have amazing brains.” Say in your heart and with determination, “I am somebody, I am somebody!” Remember always, “If you believe it, you can achieve it ... so believe to achieve” and let us all, as we continue to strive for excellence, make every day a good day.

Evelyn Jones, Boardman