Two years after the plan went into effect, Jim Hightower showed up at a school board meeting and asked to speak. What he said caught a number of board members by surprise. It's the best thing that has ever happened to our school. Southport High is now one of 12 showcase schools in the nation and has been named a national model by the U.S. Department of Education. It is also one of the featured schools in an integration manual that is distributed nationwide.
Educational reforms demand that teachers assume new roles and work in new ways.
Teachers are involved in all stages of school reforms, including planning, implementation, and evaluation. Teachers receive extensive assistance and support as they begin the change process. Teachers receive additional assistance at regular intervals during implementation of the reform.