As a former high school math teacher, Tracie Anderson Swilley knows the importance of building a foundation: 鈥淢ath builds upon itself,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 have a good, strong foundation, you鈥檙e not going to be successful.鈥�
Swilley, who was named the National Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, has led Fairfield Central High School in Winnsboro, S.C., for more than a decade. During her tenure, the school鈥檚 graduation rate has improved. Fairfield Central鈥檚 students have also made strong gains in both math and reading in the last three years.
It鈥檚 important to 鈥渕eet students where they need to be met,鈥� Swilley said in the video above.
One of her key strategies for academic success has been to introduce algebra to all 9th grade students and then track their progress. Students who struggle initially can take two years to complete the course instead of one, once they鈥檝e mastered the fundamentals.
Last school year, for the first time in its 37-year history, Fairfield Central was awarded an overall 鈥済ood鈥� rating by the state. Swilly was quick to credit her teachers and students for 鈥渢rusting the process鈥� because 鈥渋t did not happen overnight,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t takes time.鈥�
