Gregory Harrington checked off a major career accomplishment this morning when he began his first full school day as principal of Osyka Elementary School.
Harrington, who has been assistant principal at Amite County Elementary School for the past two years, began the new job July 1 and has been quickly learning about Osyka Elementary and the South Pike School District. And though he’s new, Harrington is aiming high for his staff and students.
Harrington said his main goal for the school is to reconnect with the town’s residents and make Osyka Elementary a community school once again.
“At one time, Osyka was a community school — the community did a lot for the school, and the school did a lot with the community,” Harrington said. “I want to bring that rapport back into the community.”
Harrington said a local Cub Scout troop is helping renovate the school garden, and he is brainstorming other ideas with the Parent Teacher Organization and Osyka Civic Club.
His other major goal, along with Superintendent Dr. Estes Taplin, is for the school to become an A-rated school by the end of the 2014-15 school year. Its rating for 2012-13 was a C.
In May, the district adopted a new literacy promotion policy for kindergarten through third-grade students that requires them to read on or very close to grade level by the end of the school year to be promoted.
The Mississippi Department of Education made this mandatory for third-graders across the state, and South Pike trustees also decided to extend that policy to all the younger students.
Harrington said he has worked with curriculum director Susan McGehee, who has been developing many new reading and writing strategies for the classroom in the past year.
A 90-minute reading block every morning was put in place for students district-wide, and Harrington said schools will be monitoring the students’ reading levels and improvement throughout the year. Schools will provide individual attention for those students who are struggling.
Harrington has also met with former principal Joe Leavy, who is now principal at Learning Academy, the district’s alternative school, which meets at the Braswell Education Complex.
Harrington also is focused on parental involvement both during school and at home. He is inviting parents to come read to children during the day and is working on ways to reach out to parents about the importance of reading after school.
“Our main thing is to have an open line of communication with the parents about reading and how important it is to everything their children do,” he said.
This year also brings the first year of full implementation of Common Core, but Harrington isn’t concerned. “We can’t help but be ready for Common Core.”
Osyka Elementary teachers have been working with many of the state standards since they were adopted in 2010 and are prepared for the curriculum changes.
In the long run, Harrington hopes he can be a strong leader for Osyka students and staff and help lead the school to an A rating and the district to Star Status.
“Right now, I’m ready to see how effective a principal I can be. This will be my show, and I don’t have an assistant,” he said. “But why not shoot for the stars? We have the people in place that can do it at every campus.”
