Principal of the year is boon to community

JON CLOUSE

November 21, 2008 at 3:02PM AKST

Herman Gerving, principal of Manokotak “Nunaniq” School, was awarded the Region VII principal of the year honors from the Association of Alaska Secondary School Principals.  

Herman Gerving is in his third year leading Manokotak School and has been a major factor of the success of the students and staff. His readiness to recognize the efforts of the staff and students can be counted as one reason for the principal of the year honor.

Herman has used a variety of instructional leadership skills to promote academic success within the student population. A focus on community engagement through open houses, parent and community meetings, bringing elders into classrooms, and variety of other activities has created a welcoming atmosphere in the school. The use of the “responsible thinking process” has been a successful behavior intervention strategy that increases teaching time and requires students to take ownership of their choices.

Since Herman became principal at the school, the student government has become a strong influence in the functions of the school with a constant presence at the state level.  In fact, the student government, under the direction of Dana Bartman, has been selected as the Alaska student council of excellence.

The strong instructional leadership qualities that Herman Gerving has brought to Manokotak School has resulted in the school making Adequate Yearly Progress for the first time since the No Child Left Behind Act was enacted. Data from the Alaska standards based assessment, the Alaska computerized formative assessment, and a standard assessment called AIMSweb, is used to identify students’ strong and weak areas, followed by a tailoring of instruction by the teachers to improve in the areas of need.  

Herman has created a school culture that focuses on academic success, community involvement and responsibility. He has made a difference in the lives of the students and staff. Herman is an asset to the community of Manokotak, Manokotak School and Southwest Region School District.

Jon Clouse is director of federal and state programs support for Southwest Region School District. He can be reached at jclouse@swrsd.org.