On the outside, it looks like any high school in Oklahoma. The football stadium stands at attention, students walk to and from class, but inside the school is where innovation abounds. And why? The principal. A man by the name of Adam Hull. See, Adam is a Hallway Leader; he is constantly looking for ways to serve the students at his school. Running through his mind is a stream of plans to “make sure his students are prepared for life after high school,” “Give his students real-world experiences, so they can better know what they want to do when they leave his place.” His idea, each student will have a future career track, each student will get the opportunity to ‘intern’ in the community, and each student will have a better plan as to what they actually want to go out into the world and do.
At Newcastle High School, a rural high school, outside of Oklahoma City, kids can enroll in the aviation elective where they use flight simulators, make hot air balloons, and conduct tests in wind tunnels. The only problem: the aviation teacher needs more simulators and more materials as so many kids want in that class. Who wants to help?
And it is not just cool classes that exist in this innovative high school, but real-world application to future jobs. As I walked the building with my good friend, Adam, I got pretty near tears as I observed a class of ‘future teachers’ learning about how best to engage the brains of their future students. I often call my first- and second-year teachers my ‘baby teachers.’ These are real-live baby teachers on an education track in high school, in high school, not college.
As we walked into the counselor’s office, I picked up an application for an internship. Students apply for internships and are embedded in the community to work and try out career fields in real time to see if it is for them! This is so much more than textbook teaching; this is why we do what we do. Mr. Hull was introducing me around the counselor’s office when a student walked in.
“I don’t think I want to intern in nursing anymore,” he said, “in my opinion, it is not for me.”
The adults looked at each other and unequivocally said, “Absolutely, let’s get you placed elsewhere.” There were no chiding remarks of ‘you have to see it through whether you like it or not; we don’t quit; this is the real world!’ No, this child was seen, valued for his opinion, heard, and empowered to try something else.
“That is the point,” Adam said, “we should be giving our kids experiences that will help them determine their futures and how they can be successful and happy. I’m not going to require my students to read and act out Romeo and Juliet if that is not applicable to their future lives.” Now, Romeo and Juliet fanatics, don’t come for me; it can have its place, but the point being that my friend Adam is not scared to challenge the status quo when it comes to doing what is right for each and every kid that walks the hallways of his building. And guess what, he was like this as an innovative teacher in a math class. I was fortunate enough to have him on my team early in my career; I got to see him in action and do some really cool cross curricular lessons with him and our students. He has taken what he knows to be right for kids and implement it in an entire school community. It is remarkable.
As Principal Hull walked me out of his school, kids felt permitted and comfortable to shake his hand, give him a high five, or holler down the hall at him that they were dressing up as him for Halloween. Also, a teacher came jogging down the hall to get his attention.
“Hey Adam,” she said a little out of breath because teachers have about a million and one things to do in their one, short, glorious planning period. “Did you get my email?” she questioned.
“No,” he answered back, “I haven’t been to my office yet today.” Mind you, it was 2 p.m. “I will answer emails when the buses leave.” Yep, that’s my buddy Adam. If you haven’t seen the amazing things Newcastle High School is doing, get over there and take a tour. You will find Mr. Hull in the hallways of his school.
-Katie
Katie Kinder 