“I am confident that Principal Scott has the best interests of the J Hop staff, scholars, and parents at the forefront of her administration,” said Dr. Goliath Davis.
BY GOLIATH J. DAVIS, III, Ph.D. | Contributor
ST. PETERSBURG — Over the last two weeks, the community has been swirling with conversations and controversy surrounding the newly appointed John Hopkins Middle School Principal Brittnee Scott. Allegations surrounding her leadership ranged from heavy-handed administrator to dogmatic practices. I decided to make an unannounced visit to the school to assess the situation myself, and was pleased with my findings.
While I do not work for Principal Scott and cannot attest to the validity of the accusations regarding her style, I can honestly say that I found her to be personable, self-aware and engaging. I was able to observe interactions between Scott and her staff. They were void of tension and appeared very comfortable. In fact, teachers sought her out to redeem pumpkins for administrative coverage of a class period of their choice. Scott initiated a pumpkin hunt, where small artificial pumpkins are placed around the school. When teachers find them, they can be redeemed for prizes.
Scholars freely greeted Principal Scott and approached her to engage in conversation. When asked about her data and her vision, I was pleasantly surprised. She readily spoke about her data absent notes or references. Her vision aligns perfectly with the district’s vision of 100 percent student success, and she articulated a value emphasized by former Transformation Zone Chief Nikita Reed: scholars first.
During my visit, I experienced a sense of déjà vu. Approximately three years ago, Lakewood High School Principal Connisheia Garcia faced similar challenges. The common denominator for both schools is change. Individuals accustomed to working in their familiar environments do not always welcome the discomfort caused by change. Principal Garcia dealt successfully with her challenges, and Lakewood High School is amazingly productive as a result.
Principal Scott is a new principal with a sound vision and deep compassion for scholars. She is going to make some mistakes. She readily admits a need to slow down, articulate the vision to her staff, accept feedback and suggestions and move forward as a team. She realizes she cannot simply reassign students to address the discipline issue and change the culture. As with Garcia at Lakewood, some will not buy into the mission and eventually leave.
I am confident that Scott has the best interests of the J Hop staff, scholars, and parents at the forefront of her administration. I look forward to realizing the benefits of her leadership. Some I have spoken to indicate the changes she is trying to make are necessary and long overdue. Others are on the fence with a wait-and-see mindset. Others will never buy in and eventually leave. Principal Scott can ultimately be successful with the modifications and adjustments she hopes to make if she wins the hearts and minds of her scholars, parents and staff. And district support is imperative. John Hopkins has an energetic young leader who is devoted to her scholars and staff. She needs an opportunity to refine and implement a mutually shared vision, a supportive supervisor and district resources and support.
Dr. Goliath Davis is a former St. Petersburg police chief and deputy mayor who advocates for education in Pinellas County, focusing on Black student achievement.
