Great Mills H.S. Principal Jake Heibel talks about his school’s graduation successes
Leonardtown, MD — There were no champagne corks popping but it was none-the-less celebratory. A year ago then St. Mary’s County Superintendent Michael Martirano hailed the school system reaching a 91.5 percent graduation rate, its highest ever, with a lot of pomp and circumstance. This year Interim Superintendent Scott Smith could do his predecessor one better with the announcement that the system had achieved a 93.4 percent graduation rate for the Class of 2014.
To celebrate, Smith invited the system’s high school principals along with a representative teacher and counselor to the Jan. 29 school board meeting.
About the graduation rate, Smith said, “It is a datapoint that determines how successful we are for children.” The 2014 rate is the third highest in the state, about a half of a percentage point behind number one Queen Anne’s County and number two, neighbor Calvert County.
Each of the three high schools shared the success, with a 5.6 percent increase at Chopticon, 8.4 percent increase at Leonardtown and a 16.6 percent increase at Great Mills. Overall the graduation rate was 10.7 percent over the previous year.
Smith also celebrated the achievements in the graduation rate of African American students, which stands at 90.43 percent compared to 72.69 percent just five years ago. The success of Great Mills High School, with a big 24.13 percent increase from the previous year, was particularly singled out.
Great Mills H.S. is about 50 percent minority, with by far the system’s largest minority population. Smith pointed out that for the first time the African-American graduation rate outpaced the white graduation rate at Great Mills. When board member Mary Washington said she was pleased to see the minority achievement gap decreased, Smith responded, “We have actually reversed it.”
Great Mills High School Principal Jake Heibel spoke passionately of his school, which is the county’s oldest high school, and its staff and students. Noting the high number of black and farm students, he said, “Our kids come to school facing challenges.”
Heibel said the successes have been years in the making and are due to “our dedicated staff.” He shouted out for praise his wife Tracy, who was the school’s former principal.
“Our teachers are phenomenal. They are extremely dedicated. They know how to work with kids.” He said of teachers and counselors: “They wear many hats in our building.”
Heibel praised the programs now available to help his students graduate, including the Apex Program and the Fairlead academies. Of Fairlead, he said, “They are giving them (his students) an alternative. I can’t thank them enough.”
The Great Mills principal concluded by saying, “We never give up on kids,” adding the school’s signature – “We are Great Mills!” Smith picked up on the theme by asking “How did we get here?” and answering, “We never give up on kids and we have kids who never give up on themselves.”
School Board member Cathy Allen noted that after a recent presentation of the successes of the local system at a state meeting, a member of the Montgomery County School Board praised what was heard and promised to incorporate some of those successes in that monster school system. Allen said, “If we can do it anyone can do it.”
Washington noted, “It takes a village to educate a child.” She said the success belonged to everyone in the school system. “We have one of the best school systems in the state. We need to celebrate our success.”
School Board Chairman Karin Bailey said she hoped that every student who graduated realized how many people over the four years contributed to that success.
Board Vice chairman Rita Weaver looked at the principals, teachers and counselors seated in the front and said to them, “It’s an entire staff effort but it starts at the top from you all.”
School board member Marilyn Crosby noted that all three of her children went to Great Mills and have been successful.
Student school board member Sarita Lee said, “Support for students has to come from everyone and for every student.” She thanked Heibel for supporting her in her candidacy for the school board.
In conclusion Smith said, “First in the state has a ring to it” and hoped that would be extra motivation for the rest of the year. The school personnel in attendance nodded their heads in agreement.
Contact Dick Myers at news@thebaynet.com