The new class principal, Tracey Stevenson, joined the Pioneer High School staff this fall with two goals in mind: building a more spirited school community and showing young women what they’re capable of.
Stevenson sees her primary role in the high school system as a model for young women of color. “I want them to be able to see someone that looks like them,” she said, “that is aspiring to be helpful for them, but not only black and brown girls, women in general, to let them know that they can achieve anything they want in life.”
After a few weeks at Pioneer, Stevenson said “there’s still work to be done” with the school’s sense of togetherness. She said she sees strong “purple pride” throughout the school, but also hopes the student body will grow stronger as a unit. “I see a lot of different divisions, and I think it would be great if we could become one big, huge family, and be able to talk to each other,” she said.
Stevenson said one solution to this is to build personal relationships with her students. One program she plans to bring with her from past schools is giving students lollipops on their birthdays. “Probably by October or November, I will be able to do that,” she said, “and be able to let them know that we care.”
Stevenson also plans to mail out new Pioneer postcards to students to communicate gratitude, and to say “‘Hey, we saw you doing a great job,’ or ‘Hey, [we] just want to uplift you, encourage you, because you are doing better.’”
Stevenson’s previous positions in Ann Arbor Public Schools were dean of ninth grade at Huron High School from 2017 to 2019, and the same role at Skyline High School last school year.
Stevenson moved to the role of class principal as the district began exploring changes to the ninth grade dean role. “I wanted to make sure that I had a secure position,” she said.
However, Stevenson ultimately wanted to be an assistant principal. “I really do like being able to work with all students,” she said, “not just one grade level.”
Compared to student bodies at her other positions, Stevenson said there’s no difference in student behavior at Pioneer. “Teenagers are going to be teenagers wherever you go,” she said with a chuckle.
At Skyline, Stevenson was involved in implementing the strict cell phone policy. She says it is a crucial policy to keep students’ attention in the classroom. “Even for myself, phones can be a distraction,” she said. “So, I try to put my phone away when I need to be really focused on what I’m doing and the tasks I’m working on.” She thinks Pioneer’s policy will help students do the same.
Stevenson also supports the closed campus policy, which has been in place at Huron and Skyline for years. “I’m glad of that for the safety of all the students,” she said, “and to make sure the students are back on time.”
As a former counselor, Stevenson wants to spread the message that people have many options after high school. “I feel like it’s important for students to know that there’s a different path for everyone,” she said. “It’s not about having a job. It’s about fulfilling your passion.”