After serving as the interim principal at Summit Academy Community School – Parma for the past several months, Alexandra Morris is embracing her new post with a sense of confidence and ease. For Morris, the school’s newly named acting principal, school is a home away from home.
“I had been saying I would be a teacher when I grew up since I was about five years old. But, throughout my school career I had a lot of amazing teachers that impacted my life in different ways,” she says. “I also genuinely love learning and school in general. I would have stayed in school forever if it was possible.”
After completing both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Florida Southern College, Morris began her career as a fifth-grade teacher at Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida. Upon returning to her home state Ohio, Morris applied for and received a position as K-12 instructional coach at Summit Academy – Parma. She later became the school’s assistant principal. Morris says she was initially attracted to Summit Academy for its reputation and mission.
Now, as acting principal, Morris says her top priorities for the upcoming school year include increasing family engagement, building community partnerships with the addition of a school community resource coordinator, increasing state testing scores, providing community service opportunities for students, and setting students up for graduation success. Toward that end, the school will embed test preparation classes into students’ schedules and provide intervention courses.
“My long-term goal for the school is to get our high schoolers to a point where they all have the ability to take CCP courses or attend work/trade programs, if they want to, because they’re ahead in credits needed for graduation,” Morris explains. “I’d also like to make it possible for our students to be able to have more access to extracurricular activities provided through the school.”
The school has the foundation for success with these initiatives, Morris says, thanks to its devoted staff, supportive families and mindful students.
“Last year, we started a student council for some of our high school leaders to help solve problems and talk about initiatives that are important to them,” Morris says. She adds that this year student council members will take a community service course that will engage them in opportunities to organize community service projects in the school and community.
“Giving our students and staff a voice is something that is very important to me,” Morris says. “I really value collaboration and believe that everyone has something worth sharing.”
The school community recently demonstrated its collaborative spirit and ability to raise funds for a new playground. Morris describes the movement as unprecedented.
“I have never seen that level of support within a school community, and I think the playground really brought everyone together,” she says. “Not only is our staff amazing, but our parents are very supportive. It was amazing to see the number of families and staff coming together and working hard to make it all happen for the kids.”
With this kind of demonstrated unity and momentum, Morris sees a dynamic future ahead for the entire school community, one she is honored to shepherd.
“Being a K-12 school gives me the privilege of getting to watch our students grow throughout their educational career, which I have really enjoyed,” she says. “I also have loved being able to coach our teachers the past couple years and now look forward to leading our building as we continue to make adjustments and enhancements.”