New Peek High School Principal Working to Improve Student Achievement
When students returned to Peekskill High School they encountered a series of changes which have been led by their new principal.
Frederick Hutchinson is starting his first year as principal. Hutchinson served as the Peekskill School District’s director of gifted and reading during the 2011-12 school year. “I like the challenge of the high school,” he said.
One of Hutchinson’s previous positions was a school improvement specialist for the Eastern New York Regional School Support Center from 2008 through 2010, working with such districts as Albany and Schenectady. Hutchinson, who was a teacher for seven years, said last week the federally-funded program aimed at improving schools.
Hutchinson’s experience as a school improvement specialist is being implemented at Peekskill High School. In May, New York was one of several states to receive waivers from the federal Department of Education from portions of federal No Child Left Behind Act.
“These eight additional states are getting more flexibility with federal funds and relief from NCLB’s one-size-fits-all federal mandates in order to develop locally-tailored solutions to meet their unique educational challenges,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan said.
Hutchinson said he has been working to improver student performance through efforts being implemented in the new school year. Despite the granting of the federal waiver, “We still have changes to make,” Hutchinson said.
There is a new class schedule being introduced in September, Hutchinson said. Students are being required to come to school no later than 7:45 a.m. and the first class will begin at 8:03 a.m.
The school is working with Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES to improve academic achievement. “That’s just the beginning,” Hutchinson said. The school is looking to identify struggling students earlier than in the past to provide them with additional help,
Aside from seeking better student academic performance Hutchinson said he wanted students “involved with volunteering and community service.”
The summer has not been a vacation time for administrators, guidance counselors and other staff. Instead, they have put in many hours preparing for the changes being implemented for the 2012-13 school year, Hutchinson said.
“I want Peekskill High School to be the center of the community,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson said that staff and the rest of the high school community is enthusiastic about the new school year. “There’s a real sense of excitement,” he said.
