Principal aims for school to be ‘education epicenter’
Published in the February 3-16, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Chris Moore
Right now is a very exciting time to be the principal at Britton Middle School. In addition to the amazing programs that take place daily, Britton is currently designing a new campus. Supported by Measure G funds, we are working with community stakeholders and HMC Architects to develop a state-of-the-art facility that will support innovative teaching and learning, increase student engagement and expand collaborative opportunities.
In the initial planning phase, we are focusing on creating smarter, mobile and active learning spaces that support learning in many forms.
These high-density classrooms will transition from lecture mode to team mode and back again, in seconds, without interruption. Additionally, our new campus will provide a seamless architectural transition into our recently renovated downtown district. Coupled with the rebirth and revitalization of downtown Morgan Hill, this “New Britton” campus will become Morgan Hill’s educational epicenter and provide a visual representation of our remarkable past and undeniably bright future.
Drawing our inspiration from Silicon Valley, Britton possesses an incredibly innovative and pioneering spirit. Not satisfied with past successes, Britton refuses to sit still and become complacent. Much like Jim Collins wrote in his national best-seller, “Good to Great,” good is truly the enemy of great. Although not a Fortune 500 company, Britton shares this mentality.
Photo by Marty Cheek
Britton Middle School is scheduled for a major construction project paid for in part with Measure G funds.
Last year we were recognized by the state of California as being a Gold Ribbon School. That in itself was an incredible accomplishment that we are still very proud of. This year, we were awarded the prestigious Golden Bell by the California School Board Association for using data to drive student intervention and enrichment. This innovative program helps ensure high levels of learning for all students by assessing reading and math levels three times a year to monitor growth. Based on those assessments, students are provided assistance ranging from intensive interventions (English Language, Reading/Writing, Math, or course-specific support) to accelerated course content through (MESA, Math Counts, National History Project, or the Advanced English Writing Project). In addition, we offer a number of classes/clubs ranging from band, coding, robotics and drama. As a result, students feel connected to school, morale is high and instruction can be refined to suit student needs.
Britton is incredibly proud of our recent accomplishments and accolades. However, we are not satisfied and will continue to push forward. We push not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard. We push because we owe it to this community. We push for the future doctor in our second period science class who will one day find a cure for cancer. We push for the future writer our fifth English period class who will one day win the Pulitzer Prize for literature. We push for the future tech innovator/entrepreneur in our after-school Coding Club who will take Silicon Valley by storm. We push for the aspiring athlete in our sixth-period physical education class who will be the first in her family to attend college.
I’m passionate about what our new campus represents. This new facility represents an idea, a movement and a relentless spirit that will not stop pushing despite our recent successes.
Welcome to the “New Britton.”
Chris Moore is the principal of Britton Middle School. He wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.
