School & Family Magazine Newstand Allen ISD Winter 2017 | Page 11

Ninth Grade with Jill Stafford
T
he transition from middle
school to high school is a big
one. The high school offers
endless opportunities to students but
also presents a long list of challenges
that can swamp a ninth grader. That’s
one of the main reasons Allen ISD
opened the Lowery Freshman Center
in 1999. and overcoming distractions.
Statistically, ninth grade is
a vulnerable year for students,
according to Principal Jill Stafford.
“The work is harder, they must
assume more responsibility for their
behavior and they face more social
pressure. They are also fourteen years old.” Socially, ninth grade is a time
when students discover their
talents. Most of them join an
organization or team and many of
the contacts they make can last for
years, according to Stafford.
“I tell students to use their
teachers as a resource and
I encourage parents to stay
involved. They need to stay in
communication with teachers and
monitor their child’s work – even as
they turn more responsibility over
to them.”
Lowery Freshman Center Principal Jill Stafford
That’s why Stafford sees the Lowery Center as an important
step in the transition from middle school to high school.
“With a few exceptions, students begin earning course
credit in ninth grade. The slate is clean and the path to
college admissions and a career starts right here. In other
words, the permanent record starts here.”
Asked to describe the
purpose of our separate
ninth grade center,
Stafford explained that the
staff is focused on helping
students transition from
middle school into high
school at the academic,
social and emotional
levels.
The emotional part of a school full of fourteen-year-olds
seems daunting but teachers and counselors are trained to
help students or refer them if needed. “It’s an emotionally
hard time and kids feel pressure from peers and parents. We
try to teach them how to balance it all.”
“Operating in a separate facility from the high school
gives our ninth graders the chance to learn all of these skills
without the distractions
the larger high school
and upperclassmen
provide,” added
Stafford.
“The ninth grade
model works here in
Allen because our
staff understands that
transition between
Academically the pace
the middle and high
is faster in high school.
schools. They know
Classes are 90 minutes
where students are
long so more material is
coming from and they
covered and the student
know where they need
Dr.
Ann
Swain’s
biology
class
at
the
Lowery
Freshman
Center
responsibility for learning
to be. It’s an important
is much higher.
role and the new school opening in 2018 will help us
accomplish even more.”
Each year Stafford gives “the speech” to parents and
students offering tips on managing time, handling pressure
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