BCEF interviewed WRHS Principal Pete Jurovich at the beginning of the school year.  Read the whole article for information on BCEF grants to WRHS.

Tell us about yourself and what you did before becoming the Principal of Wood River High School?
Prior to being selected as the new principal at WRHS, I was the assistant principal at WRMS. I served there for five years and enjoyed every minute. Before the middle school, I was a math teacher at WRHS. I taught for four years and served as the senior class advisor for two years. When the opportunity to return to the high school became a possibility, I poured all of my energy into making it a reality. I’m a father of three girls. I enjoy the outdoors and I believe in staying physically active. Parenting has taught me that patience and perseverance are cultivated. Maintaining a positive outlook on life is critical. As a parent I try to model healthy choices and I try to ensure that my children understand that life is a journey not a destination. Incorporating the Four Agreements into my life has helped me strike a balance.

Tell us about the job of a principal.
The principal is the instructional leader of the building. Given the far reaching BCSD strategic plan, the principal must provide vision and align systems within the school to make the plan a reality. A principal needs to be forward-thinking. When schools exist in a reactive mode the opportunities for growth are difficult to foresee. Creating a proactive leadership platform shapes the future of the school and allows the natural leaders who exist to surface and be empowered. The main ingredient that a principal has at his/her discretion is focus.

What stands out for you about WRHS, the students and the community?
Great students, supportive community, and a talented staff are the perfect recipe for greatness. Working together we can achieve educational excellence. The community has always been very supportive of their schools. The students in this valley are simply awesome. For nine years I loved coming to work so that I could interact with them. As I begin my tenth year in the school district, I feel strongly that we have the right ingredients to create an outstanding high school.

What do you see as the greatest challenges facing WRHS?
Research clearly states that moving an organization from “Good to Great” is a daunting task that a leader faces. For WRHS, this is our challenge. My goal is to create a culture of constant reflection and improvement. It’s my job to eradicate the notion of complacency.

WRHS has identified three major issues – Culture and Climate, 21st Century Skills and Accountability – as the focus of its school improvement plan. How will you lead WRHS towards the realization of those goals?
Wood River High School needs to position itself as an institution that provides meaningful, engaged learning. We need to emphasize the importance of positive relationships with students. The best prevention for discipline problems in the classroom is an engaged learner. We must not underestimate the power of student choice and student voice when we make decisions about the school. Our teachers need to continue to be given professional development opportunities to ensure that our students are receiving the best practices and best approaches to learning. The students of today are clamoring for real world applications within the classroom. If we can establish the relevance in student learning we can expect the rigor to follow. Our school will be involved in a staff wide immersion into 21st century skills. My goal is to facilitate healthy discussions and then assist in removing barriers so that the transformation can take place. A culture based upon caring will create a climate that is conducive to learning. Setting up an accountability framework consists of positive pressure and support which is made up of three easy pieces: set expectations, supervise for those expectations being met, and provide support. If we can incorporate a culture of caring concurrently with a culture of accountability then the climate will become healthier. Ultimately, what gets measured gets done.

What are the primary factors in maintaining improvements long-term?
The best change is slow and steady. It has more impact and more sustainability. Schools can make great strides when the expectation in the building is that change is expected and healthy.

What are the biggest challenges for public education today?
I would say that weathering the storm of constant change is the biggest challenge. The best leaders in the world manage change effectively – through strong communication and healthy collaboration. I believe that student learning is and always should be the ultimate goal of any school. As principal, I intend to ask questions about the status quo. We are in the year 2010 and one of the main goals of the strategic plan is 21st century skills. As a school we need to accelerate our programs and offerings.

What excites you the most about being the principal of Wood River High School?
I’m returning to a school where I had a lot of success as a teacher. I firmly believe that positive relationships with students are the core elements for change. Once established, the relevance and rigor will take hold in our school. Let it be known that I have high expectations for everyone – starting with the principal. I want to create a world class high school.

What do you need from the community in order to be successful?
I hope that the community will support the initiatives and the direction the school is headed. I want the parents of the community to feel welcome to discuss their concerns and share their opinions. As educators we understand that we do not operate in a vacuum. On the contrary, we have many stakeholders that have a vested interest in the success of our students. My goal as principal is to graduate every student that walks through the door – that’s the starting point. Every decision I make will pass through the “is it best for students?” filter.

What would you say to young people thinking about becoming teachers today?
If you love a challenge and are not afraid of hard work then you have the muster. If you cherish the opportunity to foster students ‘ learning, both academic and social, and you are ready to be a positive role model for all then you have the mettle. Hands down, the greatest job that exists today is being a teacher.

$25,000 in grants distributed to WRHS

The Blaine County Education Foundation granted over $25,000 to Wood River High School last school year. Grants were awarded to the following departments and programs:
• Math
• Physics
• Biology
• Vocal Music
• Social Studies
• Athletics,
• Orchestra
• Connections Program
• Student Leadership

“Many of these grants have provided seed money for future projects,” said WRHS Vice Principal Keith Nelson. “In several cases we have tested new technology with BCEF funds and then used WRHS building funds to expand on the new technology.” For example, the WRHS math department applied for a grant for a digital projector. “This allowed the math department to deliver math instruction in a whole new way,” stated Math Department Chair Glen Lindsley. “The same lesson I teach can be accessed on You Tube. This means that we can meet learners on many different levels and keep the lessons relevant and engaging.”

Funds for each school are available through donations from individuals, Atkinsons’ Family Markets and the BCSD employee giving program. A competitive application process evaluates grant applications through the BCEF mission and values as well as the projects ability to enhance the BCSD Strategic Plan.

The return on investment is measured by the impact on students and teachers. “We see a difference every day with BCEF funds” said Nelson. Every student at WRHS is touched daily by your support of the BCEF.