Alton High School's Administrative Team Comes Together to Support Students
Principal Stacie Franke says teamwork shapes her experience at Alton High School. During National Principals Month, learn more about the people helping her support the high school community.
ALTON - As the Alton Community Unit School District #11 winds down from Homecoming Week, the Alton High School administrative team is excited for the next half of the fall semester.
October is National Principals Month, honoring school administrators who go above and beyond to support students. At Alton High School, Principal Stacie Franke oversees a team of people including Jordan Anderson, Mack Ivory, Tyler Hamilton, Willie Kilpatrick, Natalie Gordon, Nicole Walker, Kate Page and Tim Jones. Franke noted the value of working together to uplift the high school community.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
“It’s been the best experience professionally that I’ve had,” she said. “This team, they’re the reason that I come to work every day to work with the students, because you’re really never alone here in working with the team. Everyone sitting around this table are students first, and every decision that they make is about students and making sure that we’re doing what is in the best interest of students.”
At Alton High School, each assistant principal oversees a different department. But they collaborate constantly, with weekly admin meetings and conversations about their work every day.
Ivory noted that each conversation is “a meeting of the minds,” with different perspectives coming together to problem-solve. Gordon agreed, adding that the administrative team “feels more like a family” than a group of colleagues. Jones noted that the group is “very caring, very loving” and worth the hourlong drive he used to make from Missouri every day to engage with them.
The administrators emphasized that the students are at the heart of their work. They enjoyed Homecoming Week and look forward to the winter sports season, prom and other milestones.
But graduation is their favorite day because it means a lot to watch the seniors walk across the stage. Over the four years that the students spend at the high school, the administrators form close relationships with them. The AHS team knows their kids will go on to do great things.
“Our students are amazing,” Ivory said. “We have some of the best students around. I think they’re going to be some of the most well-rounded individuals you’ll meet just because of the diversity, the community pride in the cities of Alton and Godfrey that we get to share with each other.”
The administrators thanked the community, noting that people help the students in different ways. Because the community supports them, many students have vocalized their goals to give back to the Riverbend region.
The high school remains a special spot, where students, teachers and administrators learn together. Anderson hopes that AHS can continue to guide the next generation.
“We're lucky that our community pours so much into our students because then they want to come back and build upon that,” she added. “This is my favorite place in the world. It can be a random Tuesday like today, but there’s going to be something magic going on somewhere.”
This featured article is sponsored by the Alton Community Unit School District #11. To get your business or organization featured on www.RiverBender.com, contact us at sales@riverbender.com.
More like this:
- Most Popular
- Top Stories
- Most Recent
