Pelican Educational Foundation Promises

Revolution for Kenilworth Middle School

By Emily Faget

 

It’s not just freshly painted walls and new textbooks that have Kenilworth Middle School parents talking - the curriculum and goals of the school are getting remodeled as well.

 

The Pelican Educational Foundation took over Kenilworth Middle School for the 2009-10 school year, after a state takeover due to low test scores and high drop out rate. But the dire circumstances surrounding their arrival didn’t seem to put a damper on the spirits of the new administration at their open forum on July 20.

 

“We think of this as a clean slate for all our students,” said Joaquina Winslow, new assistant principal at Kenilworth Middle.

 

Previous Success

The aptly renamed Kenilworth Science & Technology school boasts LSU professors on the teaching staff and an administration familiar with school takeovers.

 

Cuneyt Dokmen, new principal at Kenilworth Science & Technology, called attention to their last school remodel at Abramson Science & Technology in New Orleans.

 

“Abramson had test scores of 29 when we arrived. In just two years, we brought the scores to 69. What an achievement for the children to have such success,” Dokmen said.

 

Abramson also had a 0 percent drop out rate and 96 percent attendance after Dokmen and The Pelican Education Foundation took over.

 

“Those numbers are uncanny, and something we are very proud of,” Dokmen said.

 

Academic Goals

The goals of Kenilworth Science & Technology will be more than high attendance, 0 percent drop-out rate and increased test scores. The Pelican Educational Foundation also wants to place emphasis on mastery of math and science, and constant hands-on experience with technology.

 

“Even as we speak, someone is out there inventing the newest technology. That’s why it’s important that our children learn to use technology now,” Winslow said.

 

Kenilworth Science & Technology will also focus on sending each of its students to college after high school.

 

“Children need education to survive and each one should go to college. But what we forget sometimes is that many students have never stepped foot on a college campus. We say, ‘Go to college,’ but they don’t know anything about college,” Winslow said.

 

This means field trips to local colleges and educational activities on those campuses.

 

Parental Involvement

One of The Pelican Education Foundation’s priorities is a “red chair” in each classroom on its campus. This chair will remain empty for any parent who wants to visit their child’s class on any given day.

At left is Cuneyt Dokmen who is the new principal at Kenilworth Science and Technology. He greeted interested visitors and parents at a recent open house at the new charter school that was formerly Kenilworth Middle School. With him is District Director Brian McNabb who represented Congressman Bill Cassidy at the meeting.

“We do this because children need to be motivated by their parents just as much as by their teachers. If they have both, they will succeed,” Winslow said.

 

Dokmen admitted that many students shudder at the thought of a parent in their classroom, but urged parents to remember the importance of their presence.

 

“You can come here to see how your child is learning, not just what they are learning. If they want to know why, just practice this sentence, ‘I came to school because it’s important and I want to see how you’re doing,’” Dokmen said.

 

Each teacher will also be available for home visits. This means that each teacher will visit a home whose student or parent has concerns.

 

“This is a private thing where everyone can make sure they’re on the same team and everyone can feel safe,” Winslow said.

 

Other parent activities include Student-Teacher-Parent barbecue parties, open houses, PTO meetings and a “Parent Portal” website where each parent can track their student’s homework, grades and lesson plans.

 

What’s a Charter School?

Not only is Kenilworth Middle now a science and technology-oriented school, it’s a charter academy as well. But many parents arrived at the open forum wondering what exactly a charter school is.

 

“We like to think of a charter school as a mix of public and private school structure,” Winslow said.

 

Like a private academy, Kenilworth Science & Technology is small, self-governing and offers a flexible curriculum. But similar to a public school, it is Louisiana-accredited, non-profit and free for all students.

 

To ask your own questions about the new Kenilworth Science & Technology school, call Cuneyt Dokmen at 766-8111 or email cdokmen@kenilworthst.org.