THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 12, 1994 TAG: 9408110149
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
You'll rarely find this boss chained to her desk.
That's because Betty Bartlett, the new principal of Hodges Manor Elementary School, enjoys spending most of her time in the trenches with students - even if it means sometimes putting off other officialduties until later.
``I've always said one of the things I need to work on is organization,'' the 27-year veteran said, ``but I would rather be in a classroom, with people
Bartlett replaced William J. Wiseman. He moved to John Tyler Elementary as part of a district re-organization for the upcoming school year.
During the past school year, Bartlett was assigned to oversee the ``Continuous Progress'' pilot project at Churchland Elementary, where she had worked as a principal for six years. She criss-crossed the district trying to sell other schools on the approach, which allows students to work at their own pace in non-graded, multi-age groups.
Working at Hodges Manor will be a homecoming of sorts. She taught there about two decades ago.
``I know something of the community and something of the children,'' she said. ``The children were wonderful and the parents were very supportive, and I suspect that they still are. I don't think that's changed very much.''
The needs of many children, however, have indeed changed over the years. And Bartlett is a firm believer in exploring innovative teaching methods that better suit students.
She acknowledges that she often takes on too much at once. But she said she isn't the type of leader who rules from above with an iron fist.
``I'm more of a nurturer,'' she said. ``I like to develop the strengths in people.''
She is eager to preach the gospel of Continuous Progress to Hodges Manor parents and teachers as a strategy to boost student achievement.
Research indicates that students in non-graded primary programs frequently outperform others on standardized tests. In addition, those students are said to feel more positive about school and fewer become discipline problems once they reach middle school, experts say.
In addition to Churchland Elementary, Port Norfolk Elementary and Churchland Academy will adopt the program this fall.
Because Hodges Manor is a small school of about 300 students, Superintendent Richard D. Trumble decided to keep Bartlett in her saleswoman role on the side.
The longtime Portsmouth resident sees other advantages in working with a small student body. ``It's important to me to have a personal knowledge of people,'' she said.
Also important, she said, is the philosophy that learning never stops. Bartlett, 56, earned a doctorate in educational administration from Virginia Tech last November. MEMO: RESUME
BETTY BARTLETT, principal of Hodges Manor Elementary School and
administrator of the Continuous Progress model in Churchland, Port
Norfolk and Churchland Academy elementary schools
Age: 56
Residence: Portsmouth
Family: Married; two grown children
Education: Bachelor's in secondary education from James Madison
University; master's in reading and elementary education from Old
Dominion University; doctorate in educational administration from
Virginia Tech
Previous position: Special assignment during the past school year.
Her job was to oversee implementation of the Continuous Progress pilot
project at Churchland Elementary and sell other district schools on the
approach - which, among other strategies, allows students to work at
their own pace and in multi-age groups.
Years in district: 27; former principal of Churchland Elementary for
six years
Salary: $56,284.80 by CNB