Welcome Our New Faculty for the 2021-22 School Year!

This year, my communications focus has been on practical matters, such as opening the school during a pandemic AND during a major campus renovation.  I did not want you to forget, however, that we have a number of talented new teachers who have joined the Houston Academy family this year. I can truly say that we certainly have never had a more talented group of faculty joining our team. I’d like to take the opportunity now to introduce them to you. 

Ellen Bridges

Mrs. Bridges will be teaching 3rd Grade. She has an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from Auburn University and a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Troy University-Dothan. Previously, she taught in Dothan City Schools for 25 years.

Mrs. Bridges is married to her high school sweetheart, Tony. They have two children. Hudson is 19 and Mary Lisenby is 16. For relaxation, she enjoys spending time at the lake with her family and dog, Hallie. 

When asked why she came to HA, she said, “After retiring from Dothan City Schools after 25 years, I knew that I wanted to continue teaching. I have a few friends who teach at Houston Academy and love it. After interviewing and viewing the campus I knew that Houston Academy was a great fit for me. I felt so comfortable and at home.” On why she became a teacher, Ellen articulated “I have always loved children. As a teen I loved to babysit and work with children. When I would babysit I enjoyed turning my time babysitting into a learning lesson or adventure.” 

Jenna Brown

Mrs. Brown will be a 5K Teaching Assistant. She received a Bachelor's from Troy University and previously taught preschool at Way to Grow Child Development Center.

Her husband is Andrew Brown, and they have a son, Sawyer Brown. She loves spending time with her family and especially enjoys staking trips to the beach. Additionally, she enjoys baking and reading a good book. 

Mrs. Brown says she came to HA because she was drawn to the family environment. Mrs. Brown became a teacher because she “…love[s] helping children learn and thrive as they grow.” 

Brittany Curry 

Mrs. Curry is joining Houston Academy as a 4th grade teacher. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Auburn University and a Master’s of Education in Elementary Education from the University of South Alabama. Mrs. Curry has taught kindergarten in Madison, MS and 4th and 5th grades in Fairhope, AL. In Dothan, she has taught 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades at Montana Magnet School and Highlands Elementary School. She is also the Director of the Dothan Chapter of the National League of Junior Cotillions. 

Mrs. Curry is married to her husband of 15 years, Matthew Curry. Matthew is originally from Dothan, which is what brought her family from Fairhope to Dothan five years ago. They have two children that will be joining the Houston Academy family this year, as well. Their daughter, Monroe, will be a 5th grader, and their son, Ladner, will be a 1st grader. They are very excited to have their family together at Houston Academy.

Of teaching, Mrs. Curry states, “I love children and always have. I am a life-long learner and delight in sharing that passion with my students, as well. Ultimately, the teachers that inspired me to go into education were the ones that I respected, was able to bond with, and trust. It was apparent that those teachers genuinely had all of their students’ best interests at heart. In addition to encouraging, challenging, and educating students, my sincere desire is to make a positive, lasting impact on their lives.” 

Even before coming here to teach, the Currys had decided that they were sending their children to Houston Academy. Mrs. Curry affirms, “…after speaking with other parents and Houston Academy alumni, we felt that the level of preparedness they'd have upon graduating from HA would be exemplary. Therefore, whenever I found out that there were openings to teach at Houston Academy this year, I was eager to apply. Naturally, I wanted to teach at the same school where our children would be attending. We feel that God has truly blessed all of us in this transition. We have been welcomed with open arms, and are overjoyed about joining the HA family!”

Sara David

Mrs. David will be teaching Middle School English. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. Before earning her teaching certification, Sara had a career in sales in Atlanta. Prior to HA, she taught in Florida where she earned a Highly Effective Teacher rating. 

Her husband is Upper School English teacher and co-Department Chair, Brian David. She and Brian have two boys. Caleb is 4 years old and is in 4P at HA, and Christopher is 2 and will be at HA next year. 

Sara enjoys Reading, yoga, travel, and spending time with her boys. She says she became a teacher, in part, because of the influence of her husband. She said, “When I met my husband, who taught 7th grade English at the time, I realized I was not as passionate about my career as he was about his. I started substituting at his school and fell in love with the kids, so I earned my teaching certificate and changed careers.” She is coming to HA because, as she said, “I missed teaching and wanted to be part of the HA family, where my husband works and my son had an amazing first year!”

Sheryl Diel

Mrs. Diel will be working as a 5K assistant. Formerly, she has assisted teachers in kindergarten and 1st grade and taught 3P. 

Sheryl is a proud mother to two children.  Her daughter and her husband have three sons, ages 10, 7 and 3.  Her son and his wife have two daughters, ages 10 and 2.  

In her leisure time she loves to hike, travel, play cards and games, and work puzzles. However. she most enjoys spending time with her grandkids.

Mrs. Diel became an assistant to teachers because she “…loves helping children learn new things. They have a unique way of looking at the world around them and that brings me joy.” She also stated, “My friend Vanessa Howell spoke so highly about HA; she refers to it as her dream job!  She shared how close the staff is and how it’s like a family.  I knew that this was someplace I wanted to be a part of, so when she told me that HA was looking for someone to assist Kindergarten, I applied immediately!”  

Brian Gates 

Mr. Gates joins HA to teach to Middle School and Upper School art. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education with a minor in Art History from Florida State University. He taught for 10 years at Northside Elementary in Panama City, FL, and he also had a full career in the business world. Mr. Gates been married for 24 years to Debbie Gates, with whom he has a 17-year-old daughter named Faith.

In regard to teaching Art, Mr. Gates avers, “I love Art and create pet portraits for families in my spare time. I love to be outdoors and live for football season! My life is a testament to God and what he continues to do in my career and personal life.” 

Mr. Gates maintains that he became an art teacher because “My high school art teacher inspired me to follow his path. I enjoy creating a safe and fun environment for my students to not only create but learn.” About Houston Academy, he attests, “I absolutely love the colleagues here. Everyone is not only professional but passionate about education.”

Swayze Gholson

Mrs. Gholson will be teaching 2nd grade. She holds Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in English, Social Studies, Health and Wellness, and Special Education from the University of Mississippi. She previously taught 2nd grade at Hillcrest Elementary in Enterprise. Originally from Columbus, Mississippi, she moved to Dothan when she married Andrew Gholson, who graduated from HA in 2015. they have two dogs, Colonel and Nola. 

In her spare time, she loves to be with her family, cook, read, travel, and cheer on the Ole Miss Rebels, Auburn Tigers, and New Orleans Saints. If she weren’t a teacher, she says would probably be an Interior Designer...you can always find her shopping at Home Goods or Target! 

Swayze grew up in a private school very similar to HA that even had the same mascot (her husband reminds her that we are the “better Raiders”)! She attests that she loves the family environment a school like HA provides. “The reputation of academic excellence far proceeds Houston Academy. I knew I wanted to work here immediately upon moving to Dothan. After my interview, I was drawn even more to HA because of the supportive administration, caring faculty, and top-notch facilities and technology. It is evident that Houston Academy's mission is to foster student-centered learning, as well as to prepare students for success well beyond their school years. I am thrilled to be a part of the HA family!” 

Kaylin Whitworth Grant

Mrs. Grant will be a lead 4P teacher. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Troy University. Previously, she has taught 3P, 4P, was an English as a Second Language Teacher, a Special Education Aide, and a Reading Summer Camp Instructor. 

For fun, Mrs. Grant enjoys reading, fishing, and cooking. She is married to Edwin "Win" Grant, and has a daughter, Frances Grant. She decided to join the Houston Academy faculty because she wanted to be part of a school with a strong educational influence, and she became a teacher because she wanted to be able to serve the community in a positive way.

Samantha Krietemeyer

Mrs. Krietemeyer is our new Dean of College Advising and US Guidance Counselor.

She holds a BS in English from Troy University, an M.S. from Troy University in Teaching English to Students of Other Languages, and an M.S. in School Counseling. Samantha taught English at Daleville HS and Dale County HS and also taught adjunct at Troy-Dothan. 

Mrs. Krietemeyer has been married for five years to Stephen, and she has a newborn (born June 7, 2021), Cal. She enjoys photography, traveling, reading, and “lake time.”

She said she came to HA because, “My position offers the opportunity to be a college advisor and to be a counselor for students. Being able to perform either role is a privilege, so this experience is a dream.” She loves helping teenagers express themselves and says, “It is a joy to watch them discover their passions and find avenues to pursue their dreams.”

Sara Purvis

Sara will be teaching 3rd Grade and serving as the Blue Zone Sponsor. The Blue Zone is our school spirit club which Sara founded while a student at Houston Academy! Sara is a member of the HA class of 2015. Sara holds a bachelor’s of education from Auburn University and formerly taught Holly Hill Elementary School. 

Sara’s connections to HA run deep, as she is the Granddaughter of the late Lydianne Merritt and the
Daughter of Segrid White, who is a veteran 2nd grade teacher. 

Sara enjoys doing DIY projects, calligraphy, shopping, spending time with her Goldendoodle (Millie), and taking part in “lake days.” 

When asked why she was returning to HA, Sara said, “After graduation from Houston Academy, I always knew my legacy wasn’t finished. I have always called HA my home away from home, and I am blessed with the opportunity to make an impact on the next generation of students, just as my previous teachers did upon me.” Sara also said she “became a teacher to instill confidence in young adults, so that they are equipped with a strong foundation for today’s society.” 

Lisa Rahn

Mrs. Rahn will be serving as a 4P Assistant. After graduating from Houston Academy in 1999, Lisa earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Mercer University and a Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from University of Georgia. She spent 15 years in the field of journalism as a senior technical writer, newspaper reporter, and magazine editor. She also worked as a standardized patient at Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. 

Mrs. Rahn attended Houston Academy from kindergarten through senior year, and her twin boys are current H.A. students.

Mrs. Rahn says, “Much of my life has been spent in connection with Houston Academy, first as a student, and now as a parent. Working here is like returning home, and I am excited about this new role in my community. I sought the position of teacher assistant to be a part of the atmosphere of growth Houston Academy exemplifies. I look forward to supporting the amazing teachers who enrich the lives of our children.” 

Again, we are absolutely thrilled with our new additions to the family. Please take the time to reach out and welcome this fantastic group of educators! 

Houston Academy's Athletic Classification

This fall, there have been many questions and much misinformation concerning our athletic program’s move from Class 2A to Class 3A of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA). Let me start by saying that our athletic classification is not something we, as a school or administration, can predict or control. Here is what it says in the AHSAA Handbook:

High schools are divided into seven classifications (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A and 7A) for competition in championship programs.

Classification is based on Average Daily Membership (ADM) figures furnished by the State Department of Education for the upper three grades plus ninth grade students that are retained in the ninth grade.

An index of 1.35 is used to determine the enrollment figure for classifying each private school member. Each private school student counts 1.35 for classification purposes.

Alignments are made for each sport in a class, based on the number of schools participating in a sport. Some programs may include two or more classes in a division.

 Let me explain this in layman’s terms. There are seven classifications, the assignment of which is based solely on our student population in grades 10-12. Every two years, at the beginning of the year, we submit our numbers to the AHSAA. Since we are a private school, the AHSAA believes that we have a competitive advantage over public schools in that we can select which student we admit. Therefore, the AHSAA multiplies private schools’ enrollment by 1.35. Accordingly, the AHSAA took our count of 169 students in grades 10-12 and multiplied that number by 1.35, giving us a total student count of 228.15.  For your information, that makes us the smallest school in Class 3A, even with the multiplier. As it turns out, we were .5 students above the enrollment cutoff necessary for us to be placed in Class 2A. Without the multiplier, we are 60 students smaller than the next smallest public school in our division. When we play Opp this weekend, their 10^th-12^th grade enrollment is 106 students greater than ours. If you counted 9^th graders, I would suspect that their overall enrollment is approximately 120 students larger than ours.

Let me re-emphasize that Houston Academy has absolutely no say in our athletic classification. All we do is submit our enrollment and let an AHSAA committee decide where we fall. Moreover, it is totally impossible to predict where our enrollment will be relative to other schools’ enrollments, year-to-year. In other words, we have no way of knowing (nor do any other school have any way of knowing) what the “cut off” number will be for each division, nor do we know what the student enrollment at other schools will be. Moreover, even if we could predict the enrollment of other schools relative to ours, “kicking kids out” of HA, or denying enrollment to qualified students in order to stay in a certain athletic division would be unethical and contrary to our mission of providing educational opportunities for students in the Wiregrass. I’m sure that few of our parents would want their children in a school that would sacrifice its academic integrity for athletic success.

There is another point worth noting, as well. Two years ago, the AHSAA decided to go from 6 classifications to 7. The idea was to allow for more teams to win championships and have more opportunity for success. However, if Alabama still had 6 high school classifications, HA would fall squarely in the upper-middle of Class 2A (in terms of enrollment). So, in effect, while adding the extra division was beneficial for most schools, given our current enrollment, it has hurt us – especially in football.  

In most of our sports, however, the impact of the move to 3A will be negligible or nonexistent. In soccer and tennis, for example, we were already in a combined classification of Classes 1A-3A. In bowling, we compete across all divisions, and in swimming, we will compete against schools in divisions 1A-5A. In other sports, like baseball, basketball, volleyball, softball, and cross country, we feel like we can continue to be competitive, and even compete for state championships. The real issue is football.

This is only my 4^th year at Houston Academy, but I coached for many years at quality, independent schools in both Tennessee and Georgia.  Pretty much everywhere I’ve been, I have been a part of football programs where we have been undermanned in terms of size and speed. That is not to say that we don’t have football players at HA with size or speed, but it’s a matter of depth and number. When we played Daleville, for example, there were two spots on the line where their offensive lineman outweighed our defensive linemen by over 100 pounds. Moreover, Daleville platooned players at multiple positions, whereas we had a number of players playing both offense and defense.  It’s not so much that our players can’t hold their own on any given play, but over the course of a game, the punishment inflicted by larger players on our boys and the wear and tear of having to stay on the field for both offense and defense causes fatigue. When athletes are fatigued, they are more prone to injury. Furthermore, with our lack of depth, when our older and more experienced players get injured or experience cramping, younger players must step in. Many of our younger players have not developed physically, and in a very literal sense, we have our boys playing against their men.  Because of injuries, on Friday we will start as many as five sophomores and one freshman against one of the top ranked football teams in the state.

So with football, we are in a situation that I believe is patently unfair to our children. Many people working in public schools across the state believe that we recruit. We do NOT recruit athletes. However, we do recruit students. We recruit students based largely on academic prowess, but also based on character, assiduousness, and a myriad of other talents that our applicants possess. Yes, some of our students are outstanding athletes, but most of them look at athletics as but one facet of their lives. Very few of our students will ever go on to compete at the college level or higher.

What we definitely don’t do is give our athletes preferential treatment. In fact, the argument that HA has an unfair advantage in athletics is patently false because most high school students are not willing to do what it takes to be successful at HA. Frankly, most kids don’t want to work as hard as our students do, and they would never think of enrolling at HA. As you know, our workload is heavy, and the college preparatory curriculum is difficult. Ethically and practically, we can only admit students we believe can be academically successful at HA. Frankly, that puts us at a competitive disadvantage athletically.

Of course, from the public school perspective, private schools are winning a disproportionate number of state championships. What was interesting, though, was two years ago the AHSAA provided us statistics on the number state championships won by schools that have a high percentage of their students on “free and reduced lunch.”[1] Basically, the AHSAA showed us that, in Alabama, very few ”poor” schools win state championships in ANY sport. In fact, if I am remembering correctly, there was only one school with a high percentage of their students on free and reduced lunch that won a state championship in the last few years. Consequently, to me, this issue is not a private school versus public school issue; it’s a more affluent school versus poor school issue.

The fact that schools with wealthier student populations would win more state championships should surprise no one. They can afford to pay their coaches better, they have booster clubs, they have better equipment, weight rooms, and training facilities. Additionally, middle class and upper middle class parents can afford to enroll their children in recreational sports, provide private lessons and pay for “travel ball,” and afford their children access to sports like tennis and golf. In fact, most of the rural and poor high schools in Alabama don’t even field a tennis or golf team.

Regardless, I am more than aware that we are in a situation, not just where we are at a competitive disadvantage in football, but one in which the best interests and health of our student athletes is not being protected. We do not have an option to forfeit games, though, because to do so would result in sanctions against our entire athletic program.  I do believe, however, that the future could be much brighter, as we have a good bit of young talent in our football program. It is entirely possible we will be able to be much more competitive in the future. I also believe that with Coach Howard, we have one of the best strength and conditioning programs in the state. However, if we find that our student athletes continue to be put at risk, we may have to pursue membership in a league outside of the AHSAA.

Meanwhile, I will say that I’ve never been more proud of our boys. Last week, against a Daleville team that was physically superior, our team never quit. It would have been very easy for our kids to hang their heads and just try to escape the game without injury. They did not do that. Instead, they fought hard, played with passion, and actually narrowed the score differential in the second half. Importantly, too, no one was injured. Anyone who has coached football knows that the easiest way to get injured is to play with passivity or caution. Our boys are not passive. They are leaving it all on the field.

In any case, I would be happy to talk with anyone who has any questions or wants to provide input or advice. Please know, however, that we are doing everything we can do to protect our children and to put competitive athletic teams on the field and on the court.

Go Raiders!

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[1] In educational research, the percentage of students who receive free and reduced lunch is used as a proxy for the percentage of students living in poverty.

New Faculty, 2015-16

Once again, we have had a busy summer. Foremost among our administrative tasks during our break was the hiring of new personnel. Since many of you were not able to attend our parents’ nights, I thought I would start the year by giving you a brief introduction to our new faculty.

Natalie Jeffcoat, our new Library and Media Specialist, is not new to Houston Academy. She and her husband, Cliff, have two children at HA, Sydney, who is a freshman and Lucy, who is a 7th grader. Natalie has a B.S. Degree in environmental science from Troy University, an M.S. in environmental analysis and management from Troy University, and a M.Ed. in library media from the University of West Alabama. Natalie has worked as a science teacher, a resource specialist, and a media specialist.

Emily Smith is our new Learning Specialist. Ms. Smith holds a B.A. in communication disorders from Auburn University and master's degree in communication disorders from Auburn University. She has received Orton Gillingham training to work with dyslexic students, and she has extensive experience in cognitive linguistic and speech disorders. Additionally, Emily is licensed by the Alabama Board of Examiners for speech language pathology and audiology. She is a native of Dothan and is a former Houston Academy student (and student of Mrs. Boothe).

Laura Smith will be serving as our new 3P teacher. Ms. Smith holds a B.S. in early childhood education from Troy University, where she was the recipient of the Outstanding Student Award. Moreover, she earned an associate of arts and associate of science degree from Wallace College. She has worked in a Montessori school, as a kindergarten teacher, as a second grade teacher, as a first grade teacher, and as tutor and mentor at the Wiregrass Children’s Home. Significant to our 3P program, she has received Alabama Reading Initiative Training and has also been trained in technology integration.

Connie Capaldo will be teaching 4P. Ms. Capaldo has an Ed.S. in learning technology from University of Missouri, an M.S. from Troy University, and a B.S. from University of Montevallo. Ms. Capaldo has been teaching for almost 20 years. She has a daughter in fifth grade named Bella,who has been at HA since kindergarten.  She has a tremendous love of children's literature, and she is looking forward to sharing her love of reading with her students.  When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with family, doing crochet, digital scrapbooking, and caring for her two dogs.

Eve Espy is our new third grade teacher. Ms. Espy has a B.S. from Auburn University, and she has taught for 18 years.  She spent the last eight years at Deerfield Windsor in Albany, Georgia, which is a quality independent school that is very similar to HA. Ms. Espy is moving back home to Dothan after being away for 26 years.  She has three children, Emily, who is a graduate student at Auburn, Miles Jr., who is a sophomore at Auburn, and Michael, who will be a junior here at HA. Ms. Espy is a huge Auburn fan, and as a fun fact, Mrs. Boothe was Ms. Espy’s fourth grade teacher.

Lindsey McAllister will be taking over our very successful lower school Spanish program. Mrs. McAllister is an Honors College graduate of Auburn University and has experience as both a second grade teacher and an elementary and high school Spanish teacher. Mrs. McAllister was also salutatorian here at HA. She is married to Anthony McAllister, and they have four children. She loves spending time with my family, good food, and Broadway musicals.

Ashleigh Savoy will be teaching fifth grade, and she is certainly no stranger to HA.  Ashley and her husband, Kevin, have three children who attend Houston Academy -  Davis, who is a junior; Emma, who is in eighth grade; and William, who is in fourth.  She has lived in Dothan 15 years. Mrs. Savoy completed her undergraduate work at Auburn and has done her graduate work at Troy-Dothan.  Ashley has experience in both public and independent schools, but she has been a stay-at-home mom for the past 17 years. However, in the last two years, she has subbed at HA, at which point we found out she was a veritable rock star. We are excited to have her as a part of the HA Faculty!

Amy Hafen will be teaching sixth grade. She holds a B.S. degree in elementary education from Dixie State University in St. George, Utah. She was born in England and has lived in Texas, Nevada, and Utah. She has experience teaching both fourth and sixth grades. Her husband has just started medical school at ACOM, which is what brought them here. Her hobbies are photography, skiing, hiking, camping, singing, playing the flute, technology, serving, sewing, and raising a dog. One of her goals is to travel the world.

Julie Capouch is one of two new upper school English teachers. Mrs. Capouch recently received an M.A. in English from Austin Peay State University, and she holds a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland. She has taught pre-AP English, AP English, and English composition at the college level. Julie has been nominated for and has won at least two awards for her writing. Originally from Clarksville, TN, she and her husband Tom have been married for 10 years. He is a flight engineer and has been in the Army for 15 years. She has two children, Jason who is eight and Brandi who is six. In terms of hobbies, she loves reading and really enjoys watching science fiction shows and superhero movies.

Jeff Edge is our second upper school English teacher, and he is also an upper school parent. He and his wife, Penny, have a son (Alex) in the 11th grade at HA. He has a B.S. in secondary English from Troy-Dothan, an M.S. from Troy, and a B.S. in business from the University of West Florida. He is an accomplished writer - he wrote for the Dothan Eagle and the Enterprise Ledger for 16 years. Jeff has twice been named teacher of the year in his schools in Florida, and he is a very accomplished AP English teacher who has a strong reputation for pushing his students to achieve their potential. Additionally, Jeff is a sports fanatic. He has been a very successful basketball coach, and he enjoys playing basketball and golf.  You will probably see him at most HA sporting events –whether or not his son, Alex, is playing.

As in years past, Mrs. Boothe, Mrs. Holman, and I are extraordinarily pleased with the quality of our new faculty. Not only do they have outstanding credentials, but they all love children. Please join us in welcoming this talented group of people to the Houston Academy family.

Common Core?

As we begin our admissions season for the 2015-16 school year, I have been getting a number of questions from prospective parents about the Common Core Standards, which most states have adopted in their public schools. For those of you who are interested in my take on the Common Core, I will say this: Houston Academy will not be adopting the Common Core Standards. In this blog entry, I’ll explain why.

For something that has elicited so much controversy, the Common Core’s premise is really quite simple: to have a set of national standards for K-12 education which standardizes what students should be expected to master at each grade level. It actually does not tell teachers how to teach, and despite popular misconceptions, there IS no curriculum. However, as a part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, every state had to test every child every year in 3-8 grade in math and reading, plus one year in high school. The results of these “high stakes” tests were used to determine whether a school was “failing.” Each school was expected to increase the percentage of students passing the test, each year, thereby meeting the law’s requirement for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Students at “failing” schools could transfer to a different school, and if the schools persistently failed, they could be “reconstituted.” Many states, including Alabama, have recently received waivers from adhering to No Child Left Behind in order to create their own accountability measures. Alabama has adopted the Common Core, but unlike most states, Alabama has chosen to use the ACT Aspire as its end-of-year test.

As it stands, though, states have poured billions of dollars into implementation of the Common Core. Nationally, putting the Common Core in place will cost the states as much as $10 billion, with an additional estimated cost of $800 million per year.[1] This, according to many, has diverted needed resources away from teacher recruitment and training, facilities, and remediation for our most challenged students. For example, amidst numerous complaints about a crumbling school infrastructure, Los Angeles spent $1 billion dollars of revenue from a “school construction bond” in order to put Common Core testing software on iPads.[2] Last year, the state of Alabama spent $6.7 million dollars on their testing program, alone.[3] Of course, the textbook companies are thrilled with this development, because it allows them to sell brand new “Common Core aligned” textbooks to every district in the United States. This amounts to a profit windfall.

While I certainly have problems with some of the content of the Common Core, I think we could all find problems with any universal set of standards. The reason why Houston Academy will not be adopting Common Core has nothing to do with the quality of the standards. It is because I have not found credible research that backs the notion that common standards, alone, will lead to increased levels of student achievement.[4]  Sure, high standards are important, but it’s only a fraction of what goes into student achievement and gains in student learning.  What’s interesting is that when one explores the scores on the Department of Educations’ National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), there has persistently been a four to five times greater difference within states than between any two states.[5] In other words, in Alabama, there’s likely to be more of a difference in test scores between any two school districts in Alabama than there is likely to be between the state of Alabama and the state of Massachusetts. Of course, states have had common sets of standards for decades. If standards, alone, could work miracles, we’d see similar achievement within our state. Additionally, whether a state has strong standards or weak standards bears no statistical relationship to either standardized test scores or student achievement.⁵

What does make a difference in student achievement? Well, years of data tell us that much of student learning is influenced by context variables that are beyond the control of the school. However, of the factors we can control, the literature has consistently confirmed that quality teaching is the single most powerful factor in increasing and improving student learning.[6]

That seems like common sense, right? I mean, I’ve never had a student come back after graduation who said, “I’d really like to thank the person who wrote your curriculum! That curriculum has made all the difference in my life. When I look back on Unit 6, Goal 3a in Chemistry – ‘Derive the empirical formula for a compound by using percent composition data’ – I can’t help but smile and think about how that has helped me in my life’s work and career success.”  No, what former students DO want to talk about is how Starla Lewis made them love math, Wanda Emblom made them want to be a doctor, or Paige Knight made them want to be a writer. 

Put another way, students don’t learn from standards; they learn from teachers.

Permit me to use this analogy. I can determine the absolute best type of fertilizer to put on my lawn to make it grow and prosper. However, if I dump the fertilizer in the middle of my lawn instead of spreading it properly and at the correct weight, I’m going to kill my grass. We can have all the finest standards in the world, but if we don’t apply those standards properly, we are not going to improve student learning.  It’s the quality of the teacher that matters.

Actually, I’d argue, you could give us students at Houston Academy from any socio-economic background, and given a certainly level of motivation and God-given ability, our teachers at HA will lead them to achieve.  Furthermore, I’d argue that it’s precisely because our teachers are freed from the demands that public school teachers face– high-stakes testing, Common Core, exhaustive evaluation systems, individualized educational plans, state certification requirements, monotonous paperwork, Goals 2000, No Child Left Behind, etc. – that our teachers are free to focus on children and their learning needs.  It’s because our teachers don’t have to focus on a broad set of national standards that they can focus on having high standards for every individual student. Those standards are much higher than anything the government has prescribed.

Learning is a very complex activity, and we know that every student learns differently. Not all of our students are going to be successful all the time, but what I can tell you for certain is that throwing billions of dollars at a set of national standards is not going to fix our problems. Focusing on teachers and students just might.

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[1] Chiaramonte, P. (2014, February 5). High cost of Common Core has states rethinking the national education standards. Retrieved February 24, 2015.

[2] Murphy, T. (2014, September 1). Inside the Mammoth Backlash to Common Core. Mother Jones.

[3] State of Alabama Department of Education. (2014). ACT assessments establish new baseline for student achievement [Press Release]. Retrieved from http://www.alsde.edu/sec/comm/News%20Releases/12-11-2014%20Statewide%20Assessment%20Results.pdf

[4] Loveless, T. (2012, February 1). The 2012 Brown Center Report on American Education: How Well Are American Students Learning. Retrieved February 24, 2015.

 [5] Loveless, T. (2012, April 13). Does the Common Core Matter? Education Week.

[6] Brophy, J. E., & Good, T. L. (1974). Teacher-student relationships: Causes and consequences. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc.

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