Principal Eric Worcester of Nokesville Elementary School wants to introduce his students to various career opportunities at a young age.
“I want the students to learn about something they didn’t know before, maybe find a passion they didn’t know existed,” Worcester said.
Worcester believes that teachers could use a chunk of “Tiger Time,” a free period set aside for elective programs or tutorial sessions, once a month on Fridays, to introduce their students to a new, exciting career.
But teachers would not be on their own in leading this new program.
“I want my staff and parents to bring their passions as well,” said Worcester, who hopes to reach out to all community members who would like to share their interests and talents.
He is thinking those guest speakers could lead lessons on computer technology, writing and invention, just to name a few.
Worcester hopes the program would allow students to make the connection between their interests and talents and the kinds of careers they can have in the future.
“One thing I’ve seen (is) students have talents in many different areas. And I think when you give them more opportunities to show their talents, I think it lets them know that their talents are valued,” said Worcester. “We have great students very creative students, and we want them to tap into their talents by letting them know what is out there.”
It is also a way to modernize the curriculum in spite of the limitations the school infrastructure places on the school’s use of technology.
“Our biggest buildings don’t have wireless connections,” said Worcester. “I’d love for more wireless opportunities for learning, (and) we don’t have SMART Boards.”
He explains that the limitations are partially based on concerns that the old buildings could not house the equipment, and partially the fact that the school administration is holding out until the new school, Nokesville K-8 is opened.
“When I came here last year there weren’t a lot of SMART Boards in the building. And since we are getting a new building in two years, it didn’t make sense to buy them; they wouldn’t be transferred,” Worcester said.
But what the school currently lacks in technology, it makes up for in community involvement.
Worcester said his parents are the best- very involved and always ready to lend a helping hand. Their involvement allowed his school to run a successful library reading program this summer, in which students borrowed books from the school that matched their own reading level.
This allowed students to improve their reading skills over the summer, and parents to receive guidance from the school on what their children should be reading.
The other big push for the school year, Worcester said, is for his school to work on bringing their math scores up. Nokesville Elementary students have traditionally scored very well in math, but their scores fell along with most Virginia students, when the new math S.O.L. tests were introduced this past year.
His recommendation to his staff going forward is to try to incorporate math throughout the curriculum, and to provide extra emphasis in the areas where the diagnostics prove the school fell short.
“Our teachers have a tradition of doing very well in math and last year was an exception,” said Worcester, who is confident his students will perform better this year.
Since Worcester has taken the reins two years ago, he admits he has not changed that much about the way the school operates. Although he is always looking for ways to incorporate technology, he said he felt no need to reinvent the wheel at Nokesville Elementary.
“Nokesville had been very successful, so when I came here I didn’t want to change what was working,” he said.
His community appreciated that as well as his enduring support.
“We have a fantastic, dedicated teaching staff and school staff. They’re passionate about education about student progress. I hope that every principal would be able to say that, but I certainly can.”
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