Two years ago, when Mission High School had some of the lowest California Standards Test scores in the state, Principal Eric Guthertz promised the students that if they raised their scores, he'd get a tattoo of the school mascot. The school's overall score went up 10 points.
Last year, the newly inked principal held another rally where he challenged the kids to raise their scores again, proposing a list of rewards they could vote on ― they could film him dancing the Macarena, or he'd throw a big carnival with a dunk tank. A third proposal won by a landslide: Guthertz would have a famous chef cook them all lunch. This time, the school's average score went up 70 points ― the steepest jump in the city.
Principal Eric Guthertz should be commended for getting his students and teachers motivated towards a goal. And the teachers and students should be very proud of their achievement. API scores aren't the be-all-end-all of education, but it's a good sign and deserves attention.
We love to kick public schools when they're down... They deserve our recognition and praise when they're doing the right things. Go Bears!
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