Principal Connisheia Garcia (left) continues to put Lakewood High School back on the right track.
BY GOLIATH J. DAVIS, III, Ph.D. | Contributor
ST. PETERSBURG – Last February, I wrote an update regarding the assignment of Principal Connisheia Garcia to Lakewood High School. I chronicled some of the changes she was instituting and discussed some challenges confronting her and her team.
As Garcia began implementing her plan, I received phone calls from parents and scholars. Some scolded me, insisting my writings contributed to the transfer of the former principal, and others were complimentary of Principal Garcia’s changes. I am pleased to report that Lakewood continues to flourish. While there is still work to do, Lakewood is moving in the right direction under Garcia’s leadership.
Reviewing the district’s Cycle 2, Formative Assessment Data is encouraging. The data is not predictive given that Lakewood’s scholar performance for the first half of the 2024-25 school year is compared to Lakewood’s scholarly performance for the entire 2023-24 academic year. The data clearly indicates that to date, Lakewood scholars have outperformed last year’s educational achievement in the following areas:
- Algebra: Up 20 percent from last year’s Cycle 2
- Geography: Up 30 percent from last year’s Cycle 2
- Biology: Up 26 percent from last year’s Cycle 2
- U.S. History: Up nine percent from last year’s Cycle 2
- ELA 9th Grade: Up 13 percent from last year’s Cycle 2
The English Language Arts scores for 10th graders are down four percent from last year’s Cycle 2; however, Principal Garcia has initiated some staff changes designed to alter this trend and ensure an increase in performance. As previously indicated, the current trends are not predictive, given scholars must complete the remaining final semester of school. Once completed, year-end scores will be tabulated and a full year’s progress can be assessed.
Additionally, Lakewood has earned several school awards and recognitions, including the prestigious Magnet School of Excellence Award. Principal Garcia was recognized during the Martin Luther King, Jr Annual Celebration by the Commemorative Committee and received an award for leadership. She and her leadership team, staff, parents, and scholars must be commended for their efforts to reclaim Lakewood’s legacy and glory.
In last year’s article, I commented on the district’s Resource Allocation Philosophy, noting that while South County schools need more, they typically lose staff and resources when the student census declines or significant letter grade improvements are made.
Statewide, student enrollment is declining, and the situation is acute in Pinellas. District administrators will soon face some very real problems, given funding is tied to enrollment. When enrollment drops, so does revenue; consequently, the district will have to make some adjustments. Since personnel costs are typically the most expensive for any organization, the salient questions are: How will the district adjust? Who will be released? And how will South County schools be impacted?
Lakewood is moving in the right direction with a team that’s getting the job done. Will the team remain intact? If not, are there suitable adjustments that can be implemented to continue progress? We are desperately working to close the achievement gap among a myriad of challenges, and we certainly do not need another one.
Once again, I am calling for all hands on deck. Grandmothers answered the call, and we welcome more mothers, fathers, service organizations, clergy members and other interested civic-minded individuals. Our children need all of us.
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.
