Major Improvements And Growth At Westlawn Middle School

Tuscaloosa City Schools are gearing up for the 2024/2025 school year.

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One school, Westlawn Middle, is working hard to change the perceptions about some city schools.

Recently, we published an article that focused on a list of the supposedly "worst" schools in Alabama.

The rankings, according to greatschools.org, were based on test scores and student progress. Westlawn Middle School was on this list, and while the data was accurate, it was not reflective of the current status at Westlawn Middle School.

We spoke with Dr. Mike Daria, Superintendent for Tuscaloosa City Schools, and invited him to our Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa offices to discuss their efforts to improve Westlawn Middle School's performance in all areas.

Dr. Daria brought Westlawn Middle School Principal Dr. Darlene Atkins and Tuscaloosa City Schools Deputy Superintendent Dr. James Pope along to add their first-hand perspective.

Perception is reality. Actually, it's often not even close. It can be a reason why it takes plenty of time and hard work to change how the community sees our city schools.

One thing is abundantly clear.

Westlawn Middle School is in great hands with Principal Atkins at the helm. It takes very little time to see her incredible passion and heart for the students at Westlawn Middle School.

During our visit, Dr. Daria spoke of the great relationship the faculty has with students and how they light up when seeing their principal in the hallways. Many times, those visits include a hug with the student.

That passion is contagious. That passion is having a strong, positive impact on Tuscaloosa City Schools like Westlawn Middle School.

Dr. Daria, Dr. Pope, and Dr. Atkins relayed just a few of the projects they've initiated that are making such a big difference.

One great example is the Literacy Liaison Team which recently spent an entire day planning reading activities and competitions, project-based learning opportunities, and interdisciplinary lessons for their "FalconSTAR" students.

That was followed by a brainstorming session with TCS colleagues after which the team shared their vision and reading goals for the 2024-2025 school year.

Tuscaloosa has something truly special developing in our city schools.

We challenge anyone in Tuscaloosa who has any doubts, fears, or negative perceptions to spend some time with the staff and students.

I feel strongly that we are on our way to a report on the list of "best schools" in Alabama soon.

Take a moment and listen for yourself in their own words. It just might make you proud of what is happening in our Tuscaloosa City Schools.

The conversation was aired on WFFN-FM (95.3 The Bear) and can be heard in its entirety below.