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Principal’s Message

Principal Dr. Dejonnette Childress

Greetings, Hamilton Middle School (HAM) Family!

 

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I introduce myself as the proud new principal of HAM, home of the mighty Huskies. I am honored to lead our exceptional students, dynamic professionals, and supportive families. Understanding that change can be unsettling, I want to assure you that during my tenure as your principal, we will prioritize transparency, efficient communication, authentic relationship building, and respectful engagement at every level.

 

Having served as an Assistant Principal and Principal Apprentice at Hamilton for the past two years, my educational leadership is deeply rooted in compassion, genuine empathy, active listening, mutual respect, and honoring each person’s unique journey to self-actualization.

My preparation for this role began as a Middle School Teacher, where I earned recognition as a teacher leader. This launched my career to serve as an Instructional Specialist, Assistant Principal, and a member of the first cohort in the Principal Academy. I am committed to ensuring that our AHMS scholars become standard bearers of academic achievement, innovators in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) integration, and future leaders. 

 

I understand our school’s unique challenges and recognize our dynamic potential. As your principal, we will focus on four priority areas during this first year:

  1. Building Safety and Security: We will ensure that our school grounds are safe and secure and that our facilities are updated for environmental safety and sanitation.
  2. High-Quality Student Learning: We will implement a relevant and rigorous curriculum that reflects our students' cultures and interests. We will enhance learning through interactive technology that brings classroom lessons to life and develop assessment literacy skills to demonstrate students' brilliance on standardized tests. 
  3. Community Advocacy: We will create a strong PTA to advocate for school, community, and district alliances, leading to positive changes for teens, opportunities for innovation, and leadership development.
  4. Staff Professional Growth and Development: We will value our staff by providing collaborative learning opportunities and offering the necessary time and resources to build their self-efficacy toward positively impacting students.

 

I invite you to join me as we collectively create a safe, supportive, loving, and engaging new HAM - Husky Nation!