By Dwight Lundstrom

Principal, Oak Harbor High School

We’re on the verge of a new era and a new standard at Oak Harbor High School. This means changing the way we do business. It means commitment. It means hard work.

Yet, as change takes place and the community (parents, students, and educators) commit to the high expectations and the hard work it takes to achieve, we’ll be on our way to producing something special.

As a school, we’re ready to make that leap from good to great. Last year, the school district and high school staff committed to an academic makeover – not an extreme makeover, but more of a remodel of who we are and how we teach. We sought and received the High Schools That Work grant, making us one of just seven schools to pilot a program proven to be very successful in other corners of the country.

To even apply for that honor, it first required an overwhelming show of support from teachers and district administrators. We had to prove we had the “will” to look ourselves in the mirror and make tough decisions in order to improve the rigor and worth of our academic programs. The fact that 85 percent of our teachers stood up and said “let’s make it happen,” knowing full well that it meant more work and tougher standards, tells me a lot about the quality of our faculty.

Here are some of the things we will be doing, straight out of the High Schools That Work playbook.

First, in all things we do, we will expect only the best. There will be no “sliding” through classes, doing the minimum to get a passing grade. Teachers will push students to reach their full potential. This means, for example, instead of handing a research paper back with a poor grade, the paper will be returned – with comments – and the student will be expected to do it again.

Second, tutoring in the core subjects of math, reading, writing, and science will be available before and after school. Late buses have been scheduled so students can take advantage of the tutors and still catch a ride home. The tutors are open to anyone. But if students who most need the help refuse to seek it on their own, we will compel them do so.

Third, counselors, administrators, and teachers will steer all students to higher-level classes. The biggest mistake we can make as a school is to fail to challenge our kids in every class they take. Raise the bar and students will rise to meet it. This year, we have 409 students taking Advanced Placement or AP classes. That number is more than double what it was just two years ago. We expect all our courses to be rigorous and for students to continually seek higher challenges.

Fourth, we will be pushing our seniors to take full demanding schedules. Too often, some of our best seniors, those who are easily fulfilling graduation requirements, take only the minimum number of courses. They look for an easy final year. But as Will Rogers famously said, “Even when you’re on the right track, you’re bound to get run over if you’re standing still.”

We are also taking specific steps to help our students struggling to pass the WASL. They will have the daily tutoring program available. They have a new computer-based tutor program designed to improve algebra skills and, therefore, their likelihood of passing WASL. There are special classes in reading and math – during the school year and during summer school – to help students meet the WASL graduation requirement.

We’re also working with the middle schools to develop the same rigor and high expectations. This includes higher-level classes for high-achieving students and eliminating the mindset of sliding through classes.

This is a taste of the changes under way. There will be more to come. The bottom line, however, is we cannot do this alone. It requires parents to get involved and support the changes. It requires the entire community to adopt high expectations, along with the commitment it takes to achieve great things.

Welcome to the new emerging Oak Harbor High School. Prepare yourself – you are entering a “No Sliding” zone.