From the September 1997 edition of Microsoft's K-12 Connection Newsletter

THREE CHEERS FOR CHANGE

"What a splendid mission statement for a school!" And here at Greynolds Park, with a lot of work and cooperation from every segment of the community, we've achieved two equally important goals: First, as in the lyrics, we've created a place were everyone--students, teachers, staff parents and community members--is truly welcome.

"Sometimes you want to go where everybody know your name and they're always glad you came."

-Theme from the long running Television series "Cheers"

Second, we've transformed an average, technology-poor school into an outstanding, technology-rich school where students learn in an open, supportive environment. Over the past five years, our original equipment-six typewriters, two PCs and thirty-five Apple IIe's-has been replaced with top-notch, networked computer stations in every classroom. Instead of an emphasis on right answers, routine and reproducing the known, the thrust of our teaching is to actively engage students in the learning process. Our kids are not always quiet and orderly, but learning is more relevant, more active and more fun. (For an in-depth look at how Greynolds Park built and funded a technology infrastructure, see "Fundraising at a Florida Elementary School".

The school's success is nothing short of extraordinary: The good news is that our experience can be repeated with a little bit of desire and a great deal of work. Read on, and you'll understand why Greynolds Park is a place where people want to be.

Setting the Tone for Change
The effort of transforming a school falls heavily on some and less so on others; at Greynolds Park, the key agent of change was the school's principal, David Multz. Simply put, a school principal sets the tone for a school's success or its failure. Multz strongly believed in the potential of technology to improve education, but he knew from experience that building a base of support for any change was crucial to its success, especially among teachers and parents. If individuals began to feel the school's administration was listening to them, if they felt they had some influence in the education of their children, they would start to care, and if they cared, there was a good chance they would devote time and energy to the school.

Integrating the School and Its Community
Like many schools, Greynolds Park desperately needed those "investments" of personal energy: In 1992 the student population was 825, but at the start of the 1996-1997 school year that figure had risen to 1,404, mostly because of immigration.

Multz's first challenge was to remake the school into a place that welcomed all members of the community, especially parents. In a letter supporting Multz's nomination as 1996 Dade County Principal of the Year, Carol Rentfrow, 1995-1996 P.T.A. president, describes the atmosphere at the school before Multz's arrival: "The school existed as an island, isolated from the community. Doors were closed, visitors were looked upon as trespassers."

Multz realized that to turn the situation around, Greynolds Park needed to do more than hold an annual open house. "The school belongs to a community, not to an individual," says Multz. "To bring more people into the process, I tried to open the school up to the community at every opportunity. I opened it every Wednesday night, from 6 to 8 P.M. for parents who had concerns or questions and for those who wished to speak to an administrator without a scheduled appointment."

Also on those Wednesday nights, parents were invited to attend classes with a bilingual (Spanish and English) curriculum specifically designed to help them understand the subjects their children were studying and the test-taking skills their children needed to learn.

Previously, most parents heard from teachers only when a child had done something wrong. Multz bought a few cellular phones and made teachers responsible for calling the parents of every child in the school to tell them something positive about their child.

Mr. Carlos Azevedo, long-standing Boy Scout/Cub Scout troop leader and 1997-1998 Greynolds Park P.T.A. president, recalls that Multz opened the school during the evenings for troop meetings. "Mr. Multz went the extra mile to give the community their school," he says.

Multz let parents know what the needs of the school are, what he wanted to accomplish and how they could help; he also asked for their feedback--an approach that has been extremely successful. On any given day, 15 to 20 parents are present at Greynolds Park, helping out. Sometimes entire families pitch in; the Lynns are a good example. In addition to volunteering in the children's classrooms or acting as P.T.A. vice-president and parent volunteer-coordinator, mom Susie Lynn can be found selling frozen yogurt five days a week from 1:30 to 3:30 (proceeds average one hundred and fifty dollars a day and are used to fund technology). Dad Jeffrey is an active participant in the Dade Business Partners Program that recognizes student achievement with special prizes and awards. He is also among the first to volunteer his time and skills for science fair presentations. Grandma Anita, a former educator, shouts her special touch with children as she volunteers to spend time listening and talking with selected students in need of a "grandma's ear." Grandma Anita and Grandpa Gerald are also often found helping out with yogurt sales and the annual book fair.

Explaining her philosophy, Susie Lynn says: "I remember when I was in sixth grade and my mother asked me if I minded if she became president of the P.T.A. I clearly remember saying, "No, I would be proud of you." Today, I know my parents are proud of me, as the belief in helping my own children and the children of the community has been passed down from one generation to another. And I know that my children are proud of me and their grandparents for our involvement at Greynolds Park."

The success of the open-door approach was quickly recognized, and Greynolds Park became known as a caring school where people listen to each other; Mere humor is spontaneous and supportive, not hurtful; where people respect each other's views, although they may not agree with them; and where caring is authentic, not contrived.

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