ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, June 3, 1996 TAG: 9606030108
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
PRINCIPAL Gary Galbreath, who says he has a mission to bring this inner-city school to life, is getting mixed reviews from parents and teachers.
When the school day is over, Gary Galbreath is exhausted.
He's been on the move most of the day, greeting the students, listening to their troubles, cheering them up, going on field trips with them and talking with their parents.
But he's back at Hurt Park Elementary School the next morning, as energetic and enthusiastic as ever.
Galbreath said he's on a three-year mission to change Hurt Park's image - to upgrade academics and attendance, get more parents involved in their children's education and improve the school's appearance and facilities. He has survived the first year in what is arguably the toughest principal's job in the Roanoke Valley.
Reviews of his performance are mixed.
Angela Kincaid, new president of the school's Parent-Teacher Association, said: "Parents are more energetic and positive about the school. The teachers are excited, the school has a more open-door policy and the facilities are being updated."
Special-education teacher Patrice Oliver said Hurt Park is "on the right track" under Galbreath's leadership. But a teacher who did not want to be identified said the principal is better at public relations than helping teachers deal with the pressures of working in an inner-city school.
"The PTA is happy, and the parents generally are satisfied, but some teachers are miserable," the teacher said. "For some teachers, it's just basic survival."
Hurt Park is a school with a troubled past in the city's poorest neighborhood. It is next door to a public housing complex in a community where the median income is half what it is in the rest of the city.
Ninety-five percent of the school's children qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, which is the yardstick the federal government uses to measure poverty and distribute financial aid.
Last year, three-fourths of Hurt Park's fourth-graders scored below the national average on standardized tests in math, reading and other subjects. Fourteen percent of the fourth-graders were 11 or older, having failed at least one year.
Nearly 40 percent of all the Hurt Park children missed more than 10 days of school last year. Only 15 percent of the fourth-and fifth-graders passed all state-mandated physical fitness tests.
"Yeah, it's been the greatest challenge I've ever had as an educator," Galbreath said. "It can strain the emotions - and be draining at times."
He said it has been a year of extremes.
"There have been the joys of working with very needy kids and the frustrations of dealing with their problems."
But he sought the job, and he's glad he took it.
Galbreath, 46, always wanted to work with disadvantaged children. During his first 10 years in education, he taught in far Southwest Virginia, including four years at Mount Rogers School, one of the smallest schools in one of the most remote areas in the state.
Before coming to Hurt Park, he was a principal for nine years at Garden City and Virginia Heights elementary schools in Roanoke. He also was assistant principal at Westside Elementary for a year.Galbreath has learned that Hurt Park is more demanding on administrators and teachers than many schools - and it's not for everyone.
"Working at Hurt Park is part of a mission. Some people have other missions," he said.
The entire 19-member teaching staff was new to Hurt Park this year. It was part of a strategy to create a new attitude and approach at the school. For some teachers, it was their first year in the profession and classroom.
"Our kids are intelligent, but some have emotional needs," Galbreath said. "We have to do more than just teach the ABCs to some of these children. You have to teach some of them social skills and how to get along with each other."
The school's staff must deal with the children's problems even as it focuses on academics, he said.
"It takes a lot of the teachers' energy. It can be frustrating," he said. "Every child is different. Some need a word of encouragement. Some need a hug. You have to make the children forget their problems."
Five teachers have left the school this year - some because their families moved away, others because they decided to get out of teaching.
"There has been talk among parents about teachers leaving, but any time you have a completely new staff, you will have some changes before things settle out," Kincaid said.
"We knew there would probably be some changes. But those who are staying outweigh the concerns of some parents.''
Several current and former teachers who do not want to be identified said Galbreath ignores discipline problems and blames teachers for them. They said this was a factor in some teachers' leaving the school.
Most Hurt Park teachers do not have tenure and are afraid to speak up, said one teacher who would talk only if she were not identified, for fear of reprisals.
"You are on your own. With so many new teachers, they need support, but they haven't gotten it," the teacher said.
Galbreath said he believes he has backed teachers, but he added that discipline doesn't always have to be punishment, particularly in cases where children have unusual problems. He said he is trying to develop an environment where teachers, parents and students work together to solve behavioral problems.
"In the past, when a child caused a problem, you gave them a whack on the rear and punished them, but each case is individual," he said. "Children need discipline, but the same approach doesn't work in every case."
Despite the teacher turnover, both parent and pupils say there is a new attitude and atmosphere at Hurt Park this year.
The school has a new playground with green and yellow equipment. The parking lot has been paved and striped with spaces for visitors. Flowers have been planted around the building.
A new "living classroom" is being developed that will have a waterfall, plantings, picnic tables and an arbor. Trees will be planted along the road leading into the school from Salem Avenue.
Student attendance has increased. The honor roll is larger. The school is doing more to recognize pupils who make good grades. A copy of the latest honor roll was taped to the window in the school's front door last week.
Some teachers frequently work at the school until 6 or 7 p.m., preparing lesson plans for the next day. On a recent Friday when Roanoke schools dismissed two hours early, several Hurt Park teachers were still working in their classrooms at 4p.m.
Enrollment is up by 10 percent, having reached 355 this year. Fewer children are transferring to other schools.
"People are coming here, liking what they see and staying," Galbreath said.
Four years ago, the school had no PTA because of the lack of interest among parents. After several failed attempts, a PTA unit was organized two years ago. This year, nearly 150 people attended a recent PTA meeting for an ice-cream social and musical performance by kindergarten and fourth-grade children.
At a winter carnival in March, the PTA raised nearly $900 for its treasury. Galbreath was the chief cook at the event: He grilled hot dogs outside the school's cafeteria and wore a heavy sweat shirt to stay warm in the cold wind.
"If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have had a carnival," said Donna Elkins, who has children at Hurt Park.
Galbreath succeeded William Shepherd, who retired after five years as principal. Certain people in the Hurt Park community complained about Shepherd's management style and blamed him for many of the school's woes.
"I think he's is doing a splendid job," the Rev. Charles Green, president of the Roanoke chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said of Galbreath.
Green has long been interested in the school and has worked as a school volunteer with previous principals.
Tammy Bowman, who has two daughters at Hurt Park, gives Galbreath much of the credit for the changes at the school.
"I absolutely adore him. He is good with the kids," Bowman said.
Despite the emotional pressures of working in an inner-city school, several members of the new teaching staff say they are upbeat about creating a better learning environment and improving the children's test scores.
"I think we've risen to the challenge," Oliver said. " If we can have the same personnel back next year, it'll be even better. ... We were all kind of blind at the beginning of the year."
"I wanted to work with economically disadvantaged children," said fourth-grade teacher Velma Thomas. "It's been challenging. The kids are bright, but some are socially immature."
Elizabeth Malloy, a remedial teacher in the school's federally funded Title I program for disadvantaged children, has praise for Galbreath and the teaching staff.
"These people's mettle has been tested, and they have been proven true," she said.
"It has been a challenge," said Tricia Ferguson, a teacher's aide. "They told us not to expect the school to change overnight, but we are making headway."
Superintendent Wayne Harris said Galbreath has "done what I asked him to do" at Hurt Park, but it will take three or four years to turn the school around. Harris said he has been pleased with Galbreath's success in getting the community and parents involved in the school.
Harris said he has been concerned about the turnover in the teaching staff, too, but the teachers have left for various reasons and he doesn't think it is all Galbreath's fault.
Galbreath tries to keep a high profile at the school. He is an accomplished storyteller who sometimes entertains the children with tales. It is a longtime hobby.
"He's funny; he makes you laugh," said fifth-grader Eric Nyman, who likes Galbreath's stories and humor.
"He's nice. He'll tell you to cool down and not to fight," said Darrius Rose, a fifth-grader. "Everybody likes him."
"I love the school. The teachers are nicer than last year. They help you more," said Ramona Bowman, a fifth-grader. "Mr. Galbreath is OK."
In the past, business and civic leaders have tried to help Hurt Park, but not all of the efforts were successful at changing attitudes at the school and improving student performance. Shenandoah Life Insurance Co. contributed funds and volunteers for several years. Central Fidelity Bank also provided funds for after-school tutoring.
Shenandoah Life no longer has a school partnership program. Central Fidelity's three-year grant program with Hurt Park ended. But First Union Bank is sending volunteers to the school.
The Junior League of the Roanoke Valley operates a successful after-school program at the school that provides tutoring, games, field trips and other activities for about 25 children. The program was expanded this year with a $10,000 award from the Association of Junior Leagues International and BMW of North America.
Over the years, PTA leaders from several other schools offered to work with Hurt Park parents to help organize a PTA, but they were not successful until two years ago because there was little interest by parents.
Galbreath credits others for much of the change at the school.
He said he has received strong support from the teachers, Junior League, Hurt Park community, School Board and school administrators.
"There is enthusiasm and support for the school in the community," he said. "We've worked with the neighborhood, because a strong neighborhood makes a good school and a good school can make a stronger neighborhood."
Galbreath hopes the school will become more of a community center where parents and residents will feel free to visit and use the facilities. "We want this to be less of a foreign place, to be part of the community. ... My goal is for this to be a tremendously different school in three years."
LENGTH: Long : 213 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: WAYNE DEEL/Staff. 1. Principal Gary Galbreath, whoby CNBsometimes entertains his Hurt Park Elementary School pupils with
stories, gets a laugh out of longtime school secretary Rae Scott. 2.
Principal Gary Galbreath talks with pre-schoolers recently as they
play on new equipment at Hurt Park Elementary School. Galbreath is
completing the first of three planned years at the Southwest Roanoke
school. color. 3. Jawwad Saunders, a third-grader at Hurt Park
Elementary School, confer with the principal, Gary Galbreath.