The student body of Franklin D. Roosevelt High School is about 3,700. Each person comes from a different place, background, and experience. Franklin D. Roosevelt High School is known for its diverse community. Because of this, creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone is an important goal for the school. One person working closely on this mission is the Assistant Principal of Climate and Culture.
Ms. Smith, our new Assistant Principal of Climate and Culture, focuses on helping students and staff feel supported while also making sure the school remains a safe and respectful place. In a recent interview with The New Dealer, she shared her experiences in the role so far, the challenges she has faced, and her goals for the FDR community.
Before coming to FDR, Ms. Smith worked as a dean and was mainly focused on instruction and special education. However, she wanted a new challenge and an opportunity to connect with more students. After learning about the position open at FDR, she felt inspired to take on the role. She explained that she wanted to, “reach more faces and hearts,” across the school community. Looking ahead, she has several goals for improving the school’s environment. One major focus is creating more structure in the school day. She believes that consistent routines help everything run more smoothly. When people know what to expect, and how things are done the same way every day, it creates a stronger sense of order and stability for our students.
One of the biggest challenges she faced when starting this position was adjusting to the size of the school. She described FDR as being “like a city.” With so many students, teachers, and visitors moving through the building every day, creating a strong and positive climate takes a lot of coordination and teamwork. For her, a positive school climate means a place where people want to be. It is a place where students and staff feel comfortable, respected, and part of a community. Safety is also a major part of that environment. She emphasized the importance of building a culture where everyone- students, teachers, and visitors- feel safe in the building.
Another important goal is building stronger relationships within the school community. She believes that relationships between students, staff, and administrators are key to creating a positive environment. She also wants students to play a larger role in shaping the school culture. One idea she discussed is creating student ambassadors who would work directly with her office. These students could help support their peers and make sure that different voices and cultures in the school are represented.
At the end of the interview, Ms. Smith shared a simple but powerful message for the Cougar family, “Treat people the way you want to be treated.” She believes that everyone in the school community shares the responsibility of keeping the school safe and respectful. As FDR continues to grow and celebrate its cultural diversity, efforts from students, staff, and administrators will help make sure the school remains a place where everyone feels valued and supported.
“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”
-Franklin D. Roosevelt