Not every student learns in the same way. Providing a customized approach to learning so that all students have the chance to succeed is at the heart of continuation/educational options.
One continuation/educational options administrator who takes pride in helping students find what works for them is Chuck Whitecotton, principal of Albert Powell High School in Yuba City USD. For his efforts, he has been named ACSA’s 2011 Continuation/Educational Options Administrator of the Year.
“I appreciate that educational options offers a vital service to students,” Whitecotton said. “By providing them a customized approach, students gain an active voice in their education. One of my favorite experiences is to see students find their ‘voice’ and ‘own’ their academic performance. This creates the autonomy necessary for mastery and enjoyment.”
Whitecotton, who has held his current position since 2005, said he strives to create a learning system that combines both alternative and traditional education.
“I am committed to validating alternative education’s approach as an example of how to achieve high performance in any student,” he said. “Furthermore, I believe that a collaboration of traditional education and the alternative education model helps address diverse needs and leads to success for more students.”
Providing the crossover between these two types of educational systems is something at which Whitecotton excels. In fact, working collaboratively not only with other schools but with the community is at the heart of his school’s success. One way Whitecotton has done this is to implement online learning and to co-enroll students with district high schools and the local community college, leading to significant growth of the student body.
Whitecotton said the biggest challenges in providing customized learning and meeting the individual needs of students are time limitations. Students come to the school with varying degrees of background knowledge, at all different times in their academic careers or in their school year. Therefore, timing is critical to customizing each student’s education.
“I believe that all students want to succeed,” Whitecotton said. “Thus, I focus on demonstrating mastery of standards rather than on the sequence and quantity of work performed.”
Whitecotton said he truly believes in student-centered learning and teaching. Conversely, he said he believes that the best way to learn something is to try to teach it. This ensures a highly effective back-and-forth that leads to high-level learning.
“I have learned that we need to teach from the viewpoint of those we are reaching out to, not from our own viewpoint. When educators walk in their students’ shoes, and ask themselves how that experience changes their viewpoint on learning, they cannot help but become more effective educators,” Whitecotton said. “Students can only improve their mastery of a subject by walking in their teachers’ shoes. This kind of exchange creates an emotional link that cements motivation and that develops relevance crucial to peak performance.”
Like many educators, Whitecotton entered the profession with a true desire to help others. While earning his graduate degree, he made a connection between sport performance and academic performance. He now borrows from sports to help students achieve peak academic performance.
“As an administrator, I support my staff’s pursuit of peak performance with positive analysis/feedback,” he said. “I believe we can all continuously learn and grow.”
Prior to his current job, Whitecotton was principal at Feather River Academy in Sutter COE from 2001-05, teacher at Feather River from 1996-01, and youth employment training specialist at the Career Training and Education Center in Yuba County from 1990-98. In all his positions, he always focused on ensuring students have the resources they need to excel.
“My focus has never been on my personal achievement and an end goal,” he said. “Rather, it has been on showing up each day ready to do my best. I make daily adjustments to improve and to overcome challenges. I recall that (basketball coach) John Wooden never once mentioned winning when he coached; instead, he focused on effort and improvement.”
Whitecotton has contributed several articles to Leadership magazine and is also Region 2’s representative on the state Educational Options Council. He said his involvement in ACSA has provided positive exchange of information among educational options leaders across the state.
“ACSA gives me an avenue to express my ideas via written publication,” he said. “The ACSA Ed Options Council has given me an opportunity to collaborate with other educators and to learn from their experiences and expertise”
Whitecotton’s staff knows him as a strong leader who successfully creates a cohesive learning environment for both students and teachers.
“His leadership qualities are shown throughout the student body, the teaching staff and the administrative staff as well,” said Alpert Powell High School history teacher Gerry Campbell in the nomination paperwork. “Integrity, honesty, his managerial and administrative expertise deserve high praise but his greatest asset and contribution to Albert Powell is his outstanding leadership.”
“He has an outstanding educational philosophy that holds each student accountable for their life choices while being supportive of those choices,” wrote science teacher Jim Rogers. “He relates to students and staff on a personal basis based on mutual respect.”
Whitecotton will be formally honored along with each of ACSA’s 2001 Administrators of the Year during this year’s Leadership Summit, to be held Nov. 3-5 in Sacramento. Visit www.acsa.org/leadershipsummit to register.