New program shines light on dedicated students
In an effort to give committed students the recognition they deserve, new Tracy Area High School Principal Mandy Dibble has started what she calls “Panther Pride.”
Each month, students with a clean discipline record are called out of their classoom, not for something they did wrong, but for everything they did right.
“I’m recognizing students in our building who are doing a good job of being a student,” said Dibble, who was the guest on the most recent Headlight Hotseat podcast. “They’re showing up and doing what we ask of them.”
The “Pride” program is about more than just grades. Students honored are those who attend school on 95% of school days each month, have no tardies, haven’t skipped any classes and have had no discipline issues, such as cell phone violations.
November was the first month that students were recognized, and 43 students were honored. Dibble and high school secretary Kim Torkelson teamed up to analyze each student’s performance over a month’s period of time. Minnwest Bank sponsored the first month, and rewarded the students with a $5 Casey’s gift card.
The program was well-received by students, so much in fact, that literally twice as many youth were recognized in December compared to the previous month.
“In December, because it was shorter, they could only miss a half day of school or less and have no unexcused absences,” said Dibble. “Tracy Food Pride sponsored that month and gave each student a pop and a candy bar.”
For Dibble, who is just one semester in at her new job, the reward goes both ways.
“I’m really proud of them,” she said. “I want to make sure we recognize the kids who are doing the right things and making the right choices. In my role as a principal, you get to know the kids who are in your office a lot; I want to make sure we’re recognizing the kids who are not in my office.”
Dibble said because the program is only in its infant stages, the students are still getting caught a bit off guard when they get summoned from class.
“When we met (Thursday), they said, ‘Why did you call us all down to the cafeteria? What’s going on,’” Dibble said. “’Am I in trouble?’ It’s fun to give them good news and say ‘congratulations.’ There’s a lot in their lives that they might not have control over, but this is about their attitude and showing up, and doing the right thing.”
