New principal named for H. Grady Spruce High School in Dallas

by PegNews wire

DALLAS — Veteran educator Lucy Hakemack has been named principal of H. Grady Spruce High School. Hakemack, who has more than 25 years of experience in education, most recently was principal of Early College High School. Under her leadership, Early College realized impressive TAKS scores in just two years and is likely to be rated a recognized campus for 2007-2008. She also has steered three other Dallas ISD schools to recognized status.

Hakemack already has begun implementing plans to strengthen the core of H. Grady Spruce High School, starting with personnel and the facility. “The plan is to create a new learning environment at Spruce,” she said. “I want all students to realize they have an opportunity to go to college, and that’s what we’re going to be about at Spruce.

For the past three years, Spruce has been rated Academically Unacceptable by the Texas Education Agency, and student achievement did not make any significant gains this past spring.

“We’re making sure that we retain those teachers who made a measurable impact working long hours to meet certain goals,” said Hakemack. “But we also want to give Spruce a facelift. The students and community deserve a better facility. It is my goal that every student arriving at the beginning of school will feel welcomed; they will feel pride in how their school looks; they will be excited about being there; and they will be ready for success.”

At its June meeting, the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees approved a plan to reassign 10th- and 11th-graders from Spruce to either Lincoln or James Madison high school. Spruce 12th-graders will be given the option of completing their senior year at Spruce while incoming ninth-grade students will be able to choose from three academic pathways at the school: Engineering and Information Technology; Health and Human Services; and Business and Financial Management.

The repurposing of Spruce is part of the high school redesign created under the Dallas Achieves! initiative. Dallas Achieves! is a collaborative effort to bring the entire Dallas community together to transform the district and make Dallas ISD the best urban district in the country. Through the work of the initiative, TAKS scores have improved, and the number of exemplary and recognized schools in the district has increased to more than 100.

“Whenever there is a reorganization of any kind, there’s a certain amount of apprehension,” said Superintendent of Schools Michael Hinojosa. “However, Dr. Hakemack is an excellent educator and administrator, and she has a proven track record of remarkable success. We’re excited for the students and the Spruce community and look forward to the great success we know they will all share.”

Hakemak said, “We expect to build the same kind of astounding results that we’ve managed to accomplish at Early College where, in just two short years, all of our current students, with the exception of one, are college and workforce ready.”

Students were measured for college and workforce readiness by taking the ASSET and Accuplacer tests, which are exams that determine college readiness and placement for incoming students.

An orientation session for students who will attend H. Grady Spruce High School this fall will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, August 21 at Spruce High School, 9733 Old Seagoville Road.

Source: DISD