Students are the best part

Oct. 14 marked the last day of the first quarter of school, and that first quarter was a whirlwind at Palmer Jr. Middle School as it was, I would venture to guess, for every school in the Valley. This year the Mat-Su Borough School District has undergone myriad changes at every level and for a new assistant principal the learning curve is, well… steep — but the climb has been challenging, exhilarating, and most of all, fun.

I am fortunate to be the assistant principal at Palmer Jr. Middle School. To clarify the job title, “assistant principal” in the Mat-Su is essentially synonymous with “vice principal.” This is my first year as an administrator and I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to work within the community of Palmer and in a school as exciting as PJMS. The school literally teems with activities for students and the community every day of the week.

We pride ourselves in offering our kids a multitude of choices that make our school not just a great place to learn but a place where kids love to be. From a Photography Club to the Palmer Indigo dance troupe, from Chess Club to Anime Club, PJMS has something for every student. The philosophy for all of our activities is inclusion; dances and socials are held during the school day to allow attendance for all, students are never turned away because of financial difficulty — they are given scholarships or community service opportunities — and our staff is continually coming up with new ideas for clubs to entice our kids to be an integral part of the PJMS culture. These activities are a mainstay of our school and will continue to be a priority in light of widespread changes in our school district this year.

Currently, middle schools staff, administration and students are coping with the transformation from the middle school model to a junior high model of education, which essentially means that our middle schools are now functioning as small high schools. One of the most challenging aspects of this transformation is the loss of common planning time for previously “teamed” teachers. Lack of common planning time leaves teachers feeling as if they have little time for data discussions, “kid talk,” or cross-content collaboration.

The PJMS staff and administration are presently developing solutions to the lack of common planning time as we understand the great import of collaboration and do not want to lose this most valuable aspect of the middle school model. Although it is challenging to be tasked with the innovation of a hybrid model, the PJMS staff continues to show its professionalism and expertise through forthright communication and solution-driven thought.

Throughout all of this, the school year marches on as principals and support staff mine every day for additional minutes during which we can visit classrooms, confer with students, arrange activities and facility use, develop school-wide goals, organize fundraising, ensure the safety of our students and staff, provide meaningful professional development, manage finances, and respond to life’s little emergencies that are innate to working with kids.

Luckily, throughout all of this, I get to walk the school hallways daily and visit with kids, I get to see their smiling (albeit sometimes sleepy faces) every morning, and I get to celebrate their successes with them and help lift them up when they’ve had a rough day. And that is the best part of being a new administrator in the Mat-Su Borough School District.

Claudia Berkley is the Assistant Principal at Palmer Jr. Middle School.