The Tiger Way

Howard High is getting recognition for promoting positive behavior.

Together like reading, writing and arithmetic.

At howard, "the tiger way initiative," balances teacher and student accountability by celebrating victories big and small.

The state of tennessee is taking notice.

See how in tonight's.... what's right with our schools.

Natural sound: howard has reached silver level this year as a model of a demonstration school for positive behavior.

Leandrea: today is an amazing day for our students, our falco t, our staff and our community partners.

We are here celebrating our schoolwide approach to make sure every student has the wrap around services to be the best he or she can be here at the howard school.

Miller: so this year we are awarded 209 schools statewide that receive model school status.

64 schools state wide or at the silver level.

So howard is one of a very small percentage that has reached that level.

They developed the tiger way.

And this is something that the faculty took on.

And this is something they developed and to develop to grow their culture of positivity and proactive behavioral strategies.

Leandrea: some of those wraparound services that we have for our students include a clothing closet.

And we have students that are for whatever reason without any parts of the uniform or any clothing need.

We have so many community partners that have stepped up to make sure there is funding sources available to take care of those.

We have partners from the medical community that will come in and provide physicals and exams for our students.

We have people that make sure we have a food bank distribution every month.

We provide groceries to our families literally whatever we need to make sure our students have everything they need to do and excel academically.

We have those partners ready, they stand ready to help us at all times.

Dwayne: after meeting dr. mitchell and hearing about what was going on in the culture building here at howard high school we wanted to partner with them.

I think the old saying goes, you can't impact me until i know that you care about me is true right here in the school.

And i think the culture that they are building is the a pitta me of that and shows forth.

Gus: our church loves our city.

And the school has been in the city has a great history and it impacts so many not only the african-american kids but the hispanic and all kinds of kids.

But we just want to be a blessing as a church.

Leandrea: a lot of times i think the people think of the school house of being that place where it's about the academics and the standards.

But we know here at howard school it goes way beyond what happens in the classroom.

Yes they can excel academically and we expect that but we're also going to make sure we provide those services to address any needs that they may have that can be a barrier to that success.

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