Linda Simmons Wants Middle School Students to 'Rise to the Occasion'

Linda Simmons wants her students at the to “rise to the occasion," and be the best they can be while motivating them to meet the challenges that come before them, to try extra hard and be sure they succeed.

As she continues to make the transition into her new position as principal of the middle school, Simmons is meeting with each of her classes to interact with them and get to know them better while also presenting them with the opportunity to share their thoughts on what they love about their school and what they may like to see change.

She met with the sixth grade class earlier this week and Wednesday morning she addressed the seventh grade class in the auditorium. Simmons will next meet with each of the eighth grade classes individually.

Although she already knows many of the students from their time at Euclid School, Simmons shared some of her background as an educator with the class and what led her to become middle school principal. The decision to come to the middle school was tough she said adding that she mulled it over for several days. It was the words of Dr. Mark Porto, the schools’ superintendent “Linda I want you to rise to the occasion and do the job” that made her realize she can really meet this challenge.

“So I realized that I actually felt like a sixth grader with that new feeling,” she told the class. “So then it occurred to me that I want all of you to rise to the occasion.”

Simmons proceeded to use the acronym R.I.S.E. – Respect, Integrity, Self-Esteem and Expectations - sharing the important values behind each one.

• Respect – She told students she respects them, the people around her, herself and the school and she asks the students to do the same thing she is willing to do. Respect means to be responsible, humble, courteous and appreciative.
• Integrity – She reminded students to have moral and ethical values and be trustworthy and honest.
• Self-esteem- Simmons told students to give themselves a good rating, have self-respect and be neat and care about themselves.
• Expectations – She wants students to feel happy when they come to school. She expects them to meet their goals and will be there to help them if they need work in a certain area.

Additionally she reminded the students of some “housekeeping rules” she expects the students to obey such as the new rule concerning iPods and cell phones which are no longer allowed to be out or in use during school time. She reminded them about the rules regarding too many absences and that there should be no excuse for tardiness.

Students were given a sheet to fill out in their classrooms asking them to list two things they like about the middle school and two things they believe needs to change.

“If you walk out of here today and say ‘I have a principal we can talk to’ then I have my self-respect,” she said.