Outstanding Alumni Dr. Paul L. Stephenson Ed. Dr. Paul L. Stephenson, principal of Francis X. McGraw Elementary School in East Camden, New Jersey is a National Faculty Member of Yale University's Comer School Development Program. The Comer School Development Program, developed by James Comer, a child psychologist at Yale University, aims to turn around troubled urban schools by involving parents and teachers in the management of the school. Dr. Stephenson, principal at McGraw for 10 years, insisted on continued training for the staff, leading by example when he received his doctorate in education from Wilmington College in 1977. Stephenson's leadership in adopting the Comer model has energized the school.
Teachers take turns coming in early to run a homework center and others volunteer after school.
Parents pitch in to create work stations and bulletin boards, and supervise organized games during recess. The third-grade teachers at McGraw adopted Dudley Grange, a park in walking distance of the school, where the children have weeded , planted trees, and picked up litter. Every single child at McGraw is encouraged and supported in their efforts to achieve. Statistics have proven that McGraw is a place where quality education is taking place. Test scores have steadily improved, from 75 percent of students passing standardized tests 10 years ago to 90 percent passing today, putting McGraw the best in the city.