What’s Right With Our Schools: Whitwell Middle Level 5 Status

WHITWELL, TN (WDEF) – One Marion County school has reached the pinnacle of success. We traveled to Whitwell Middle School to learn how their accomplishment is more than just a status on this week’s ‘What’s Right With Our Schools’.

Dr. Joshua Holtcamp is the Principal at Whitwell Middle School.

He explains, ” That’s a status we’ve never achieved before. When I got into this position, I wanted that status because I know students are learning.

He also told us about the importance of being a Reward School, ” And a reward school is a designation by the Department of Education that highlights a school’s achievement, high achievement and growth.”

Students at Whitwell achieved both a level 5 in achievement and growth. Dr. Holtcamp attributes that success to a lack of turnover and connection with the students.

He says, ” We just had to look at data. I am not a data person, but I turned into a data person to find out where our weaknesses were, and that’s how we determined how to do better, to determine which strategies to use.”

A large number of students who scored well were placed onto an achievement wall.

Dr. Holtcamp says, ” It’s become a motivating factor for our kids this year. They want their name on a wall as well, so that wasn’t the intent of it. The intent to celebrate the students like William, and these will go home with them during Awards Day, but a lot of students come up to me and ask, ‘How do I be up there?’ ”

The students celebrated with a dance party.

Dr. Holtcamp explains, “I think you have to know middle school students. Middle school students care a lot about grades. They care about free time. There’s not a lot of enticement or extrinsic things that middle school students need. If you give them time, time on the phone, time to dance, that’s all they need to cut loose. Their time is valuable, and when you give them time, they take that and treat it as their own.”

Above any test scores, Dr. Holtcamp says he wants his students to know just one particular thing.

Dr. Holtcamp tells us what that is, “That you are loved, and remember to always.”