Thomas Jefferson High School PETE MURPHY, PRINCIPAL
On the Track to the
Top Tier
U
nveiled from its cast of
secrecy at the slash of
a gold ribbon, the new
“TJ 2.0” was the focus of
community allure and inquisition in
the months leading up to its opening.
With construction delays, whispered
rumors, and a flooding of tax dollars,
there remained a constant question:
Is this million dollar building worth its
extensive price tag?
Last year, with the new school year
and new building approaching, Assistant
Principal Adam Knaresborough delivered
a speech to set the tone for the future
of Thomas Jefferson High School.
Striking a chord in his Jaguar audience,
Knaresborough declared the students,
the year, the athletics, the academics,
and the current school standing as
“second place.” But, he assured his
audience that this would no longer be
the case with the opening of TJ 2.0.
Now, almost a year later, with the new
building and a new mindset in full swing,
his ideals are being put to the test. What
has changed to propel Thomas Jefferson
into the top tier?
When proposing a new eight period
day, alongside the novel concept of
“Personalized Learning Time” (PLT),
district administration initially faced
concerns and criticisms from parents and
students alike. However, with the revised
schedule now in effect, the changes
have been met with predominantly
positive reviews. Providing a myriad
of opportunities for academic aid,
relaxation time, and unique activities, PLT
seems to appeal to most students in the
new building.
Thomas Jefferson senior, Mary Falstin,
has had her own success with the new
initiative. Despite initial opposition
to PLT, Falstin now notes that “‘PLT
has helped...as a time to work...to see
teachers...especially with the sciences”
and seek help with the high-level course
rigor. Even more so, the program extends
into her extracurricular activities. With a
passion for community service, Falstin
heads the school’s TJ vs. Cancer Club
alongside club sponsor and science
teacher, Wendy Matta. With the addition
of PLT, she and her club members are
planning “Mini-THON.” Modeled after
36 WEST JEFFERSON HILLS
Under the eyes of President Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson High School is hopeful for history-breaking
success. Photo taken by Tribune Photographer Kristina Serafini.
the annual event at The Pennsylvania
State University, Falstin expresses
her excitement to “work together
as a community” and raise funds for
childhood cancer.
Yet, PLT is not only helping those with
a strong academic focus. With heavy
involvement on the Golf and Basketball
team, Thomas Jefferson senior Noah
Pierce also enjoys the fruits of the
extra time on his journey to athletic
achievement. Juggling challenging
courses, demanding practices, and a
part-time job, Pierce indicates that PLT
helps him “manage academics because
of the many missed schools days from
golf.” Aside from academic assistance,
Pierce also recounts the athletic and
social benefits of personalizing his
learning. In hopes of a prosperous
season, the basketball point guard uses
his down periods for “workouts before
school...and shooting drills during PLT.”
Offering a break in the typical
schedule, the program has opened
up opportunities for “peer tutoring
[and] club meetings during the day,’’ as
well as a potential plan for Scholastic
Assessment Test (SAT) preparation. An
exciting change for college preparation
at Thomas Jefferson, Knaresborough
discussed the future partnership with
Goldstein Prep., “a SAT prep. program
that historically has really improved
students’ scores.” In conjunction with
an increased selection of College in
the High School (CHS) and Advanced
Placement (AP) courses, the district
aspires to further student preparation
and achievement.
Overall, the PLT program is part
of a paradigm shift that seems to be
successful in its infancy stages. In an
attempt to take Thomas Jefferson High
School to the next level, Knaresborough
asserts that there are “three things that
set schools apart...if all of those things
happen and kids succeed...our school
will become a first place school.” Putting
this plan into action, he alongside
central and building administration,
wants to hone in on a mindset that “if
we can improve [students’] SAT scores,
improve transcripts by [having students
take] higher level classes, and provide
leadership opportunities,” the district can
advance.
With the new building in its first
year, the future looks bright for Thomas
Jefferson Jaguars. To Knaresborough and
the administration team, all is simply “a
work in progress” with a constant search
for “areas [they] could improve on.” With
that mindset and the impressive first
months in the “million dollar building”
in mind, the race to the top seems to be
progressing at a remarkable pace.
By: Jaclyn Schwartz
Jaclyn is deciding between Pennsylvania
State University, University of Pittsburgh, and
University of Pennsylvania to pursue a double-
major of Secondary English Education and
Pre-Law.