Principal Jessica Vanderbrook left Lake City High for MSU as a teenager and discovered some students had an advantage: AP classes. Returning to LCHS as a teacher, she vowed that wouldn’t happen to other Trojans.
The school offers six AP classes – and she teaches one of them.
Walking from the office to the conference room her five senior AP Calc students call home, kids say “Hi!” as they pass by after grabbing “second chance breakfast” on their way to second hour.
Entering her classroom, she greets her students and goes over the top three most troublesome problems from their recent assessment.
Then, in 10 minutes she demonstrates a new skill her learners can use as a shortcut.
Jessica pulls out a short stack of playing cards – the kids each draw one, stand and move to a mismatched set of white boards. They know the drill.
Their instructor announces a problem, they record it and partners get to work. When there are missteps, Jessica waits and watches. Her assistant coaches/teammates solve nearly every problem, together. But when they don’t, she asks the right questions to set them on the path to success.
Every student in the room is taller than her, but they all look up to Mrs. Vanderbrook for the time she gives them and the lessons she teaches.
“She’s very flexible; she’ll meet you in the morning or after school,” says Sophie, the daughter of two teachers.
Back at their tables, Jessica hands each student an 8 ½” x 11” page with a table of standards, they glance over it – familiar with the format and unfazed. Opening their workbooks in unison, they jot down their next assignment.
The bell rings, students exit with words of gratitude.
The teacher gathers her materials. The principal walks back to the office.