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Local
Principal Targets Mindset To Change Student Outcomes
Community Day, Student Send-Off Event Termed
Successful
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
When returning students arrive at James Elementary School, they will be in for a surprise. They will be return- ing to a school that was given an “F” for a grade.
On Wednesday, at 4 p.m.,
Mrs. Robin Johnson He- witt and her staff will host a ribbon cutting at the school. The ribbon cutting signifies the end of one era and the be- ginning of another.
Mrs. Johnson Hewitt
arrived at the school about a month ago. And, she came armed with ideas to not only change the grade of the school, but to change the mindset of its inhabitants.
This year, James Elemen- tary is opening with the theme, “Game On, Change Your Words, Change Your Mindset.” When students leave here, I want to make sure they are prepared for whatever the world sends their way. They are going to be so prepared that it will be difficult for anyone to tell them “no,” she said.
She launched her cam- paign by first engraining them into the teachers and staff. The teachers in kinder- garten through second grade have been given a book enti- tled “Willie & His Whis- tle.” The teachers for the older students were given a book entitled “Salt In His Shoes.” Both books are in-
MRS. ROBIN JOHNSON HEWITT
spirational and offer encour- agement to succeed.
“Salt In His Shoes”
was written by Delores Jor- dan and Roslyn Jordan. It chronicles the early years of his life as he struggle to play basketball. “They wear his shoes, but they don’t know his story. I want them to know that you learn through failure and that mistakes are expected.”
The returning and new students will also be greeted by a series of murals de- signed to encourage and in- spire them to succeed. The murals will highlight career opportunities ranging from vocational to specialized in- terest.
“I wanted something new. I want them to enter as ba- bies and leave with unlimited opportunities and possibili- ties,” Mrs. Johnson He- witt said.
If her plans are success- ful, the students will improve
and school grade will auto- matically rise. But, her con- cern is not about the grade, while it is important. It is more important to her to prepare these students for life. And she feels that by in- spiring them with positive images, but most impor- tantly, start by changing the mindset.
A Tampa native, Mrs. Johnson Hewitt knew early in life that she wanted to become a teacher. “I al- ways had a passion for learn- ing, I love children, and I used to write on the walls, pretending they were my chalkboard.”
The daughter of Bobby and Linda Johnson, after graduating from Brandon High School, Mrs. John- son Hewitt earned her B. A. Degree from Tuskegee Uni- versity in Early Elementary Education. She continued her education at the Univer- sity of South Florida, where she earned her Master’s De- gree in Educational Leader- ship.
She is married and the mother of two young sons. Mrs. Johnson Hewitt said, “I asked the teachers why do they do this work? I shared pictures of my 2 boys with them, and I told them, it will be difficult for anyone to tell my boys ‘no’ because they will be prepared for the world.”
And that is exactly what she wants for the students at James Elementary School.
DEANNA ISOM, MBA
Graduate of B-CU Class of 2011 - Business Education ...Chair Of Event
The Hillsborough County Alumni Chapter of the National Association of Bethune-Cook- man University hosts several events throughout the year and partakes in the Martin Luther King Parade.
“But, I felt that we were lacking outreach and commu- nity service in the community, cost-free to the community,” said Deanna Isom. “Our founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune was a huge believer in service (which is our school’s motto, ‘Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve’); I wanted to carry on her legacy.”
Committee members say the Community Day and Stu- dent Send-Off, held at the Water Works Park, was bigger and better than last year. They
were able to give out school supplies for 120 students.
The event was geared to- wards community outreach with free school supplies, live music and entertainment, free health care screening, give- aways, raffles, food for pur- chase, vendors, a water park for kids, and some good old Wild- cat fun!
The event’s sponsor was SunCoast Credit Union.
Vendors onsite were: Love- N-Motion Italian Ice, Cricket Wireless, Ruby's Homestyle Flavaz BBQ, Essential Body Expressions, Greater Love Spiritual Center, HCSO Black Advisory Council, Aaron's House, Fruit Queens, LLC, and Girls Trek.
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