With test scores on the rise and a new school year, Proviso West principal, Dr. Kirkwood, is working with students, teachers, and parents to be an agent of change with a focus on social responsibility and academic excellence.

Dr. Kirkwood started the year with a spotlight on parent involvement, establishing strong student and teacher connections, and enforcing policies that encourage students to put academics first.

“We want our students to know that they have to concentrate on academics,” said Kirkwood. “We want our parents to know that they are welcome in our schools and that we need them to be a part of the positive improvements occurring at Proviso West and across our school system.”

So far this year, Kirkwood and other administrators have met with each class and held discussions with individual students and student groups to reaffirm that though excellence is the goal, average academic performance is a minimum requirement. Each student must maintain a “C” grade point average in order to attend social activities at Proviso West. Students who do not maintain that “C” average must participate in programs and initiatives that offer educational support and tutoring. Administrators have also emphasized classroom walkthroughs to monitor classroom instruction and student behavior. They also made sure that they did not miss the most important component in student success. Proviso West recently held their first Parent Teacher Organization Meeting of the school year where over 70 parents participated and expressed their support for school improvement, academic excellence, and social responsibility. Kirkwood’s goal is for that number to increase several times over.

“Dr. Kirkwood is trying to get parents more involved,” said Ms. Cynthia Breeding of the Proviso West PTO. “He is actively rooting for the PTO and the teachers, and he is doing a good job. We are motivated to make sure that our kids get educated, and we want to help support and promote them in different activities. The PTO is a valuable asset to the schools. We have always been hand-in-hand with school activities. With the principal’s help, it makes us a stronger group. We are working as a team—hand-in-hand with one purpose. We are working to make sure that our students get the best education.”

In addition to boosting parental involvement and implementing firm academic standards, Proviso West administrators are working to utilize daily instructional monitoring, tutoring programs, and teaching strategies that encourage student engagement. This year there is an emphasis on reading across the curriculum, and systematically using student assessment data in order to implement prevention and intervention programs. Dr. Kirkwood says that with the support of parents, teachers, and the community, students can become more successful, and Proviso West High School can raise standards across the board.

“We are really stressing academics and the importance of education,” he said. “Parents and teachers agree that we all have to work together to encourage our students to do better academically. We are going to do all that we can to support our students’ success. Our parents and teachers are helping us raise the bar and set a new standard in our schools. We know where we are. We know where we have come from, and we know where we are going. We are analyzing the data, implementing good educational strategies, and enlisting the support of key players to improve our schools because at this point success is our only option. I say it all the time; as we continue to keep Proviso Rising, it’s important to remember that Proviso West can’t spell success without ‘u’ ”

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