Four years ago, Lakeridge Junior High students earned an "embarrassing" 1,100 failing grades in a single term, Lakeridge principal Garrick Peterson said. That was an unacceptable number to Peterson, and he decided to do something about it.
The principal, with help from staff and a community council, developed the Orem school's FLEX program, and the number of failing grades has since dropped to about 150 per term.
The Utah Association of Secondary School Principals named Peterson one of three 2010 Secondary School Principals of the Year for his hands-on administrative style and innovative intervention techniques. Mountain View High principal Richard Clark and Syracuse Junior High assistant principal Spencer Hansen were also winners and will represent Utah at the national competition in Washington, D.C., this year.
"He has a great passion for making sure all students -- not just gifted and talented, not just Title I or ESL kids -- are successful," said Carl Boyington, executive director of the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals.
At Lakeridge, students don't wait until term's end to discover they're failing a class. Because of the FLEX program, every day is packed with the tension, relief and, sometimes, disappointment of report card day. Each morning, students receive a color-coded report card -- either white or colored. Students know exactly what it means when they see the hue.
Those who receive a colored report card know they're passing all their subjects. They spend 11 to 11:30 a.m. in enrichment activities, participating in mock trials, working on art projects or taking part in other activities meant to enhance their education.
Those who receive white report cards know they're behind in one of their courses and, for 30 minutes each day, get extra help from their teacher.
It's Lakeridge's way of preemptively attacking the problem while the class -- and, more importantly, the learning -- can still be salvaged.
"In the three years we've been doing this, we've seen our failure rate drop dramatically," Peterson said. "It makes me feel a sense of accomplishment for our school community."
Several Alpine District schools and others in the state have emulated the FLEX program. It's also drawn national attention. In his book Raising the Bar and Closing the Gap: Whatever it Takes, Rick DuFour dedicated a chapter to Lakeridge's FLEX program, and the school recently hosted educators from Texas and Washington, eager to learn more about FLEX.
"It's unique," Boyington said. "You say, 'Why can't we do that in every school?' "
Alpine district Superintendent Vern Henshaw said Lakeridge pass rates on end-of-year math tests are up 25 percent, while language-arts pass rates have increased by 31 percent under Peterson's watch. He has been Lakeridge's principal since 2004.
"He is a strong advocate for all students," Henshaw said, "and he has implemented several outstanding programs for Hispanic students."
Peterson -- a BYU grad who will soon earn his doctorate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas -- says his Secondary Principal of the Year award is really an honor for the entire school.
"I'm the principal, so I get recognized, but it's a whole community effort here at the school to work with kids and give them a quality educational experience," the Idaho transplant said.
Peterson says he enjoys work "pretty much every day" because of his relationships with students and colleagues.
"I view myself as kind of a change agent," he said, "helping kids become better, and helping adults become better at what they do, helping them change and grow."
