New Principal at McKinley
By Ashley McBride
"No excuses...just solutions," said David Pinder, the new principal of McKinley Technology High School. His office is adorned with T-shirts that have his motto printed on it.
David Pinder
Pinder, born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, had always wanted to be a teacher. He graduated from Towson University with a degree in Secondary Education. Before becoming an administrator, he taught American Government, Politics, and English.
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Pinder cares deeply for the young people he works with. He has been taking care of a boy who he used to teach for the last six years. "He needed someone to take care of him and he is now in college and doing very well," he said.
One of Pinder's main goals this year is to develop the school's mission statement. He has invited all parents, staff, and students to develop the statement on September 12, 13, and 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
"This three-night event will help me learn what everyone connected to McKinley wants," said Pinder. "It will also help me learn what the community wants the school to look like in five years."
Although McKinley has made adequate yearly progress, Pinder believes the DC CAS test scores can be much higher. Interim assessments will be given to all 9th and 10th graders this year in October, December, March, and May. After each assessment there will be a week of re-teaching the subjects students did poorly on. He hopes these assessments will lead us to having the ideal McKinley.
Pinder talks with students in AP Biology.
"In five years, I see 100% proficient and at least 50% advanced on the DC CAS," said Pinder. "Our education will rival the rest of the world."
Pinder is highly visible at McKinley. Students see him in the hallways every day and on Tuesdays and Thursdays he visits classrooms. He will also have the assistant principals visit classrooms at least once a week.
He wants to recognize student achievement and create a culture where learning is celebrated
By Anna Kinsman |
August 31, 2007; 9:52 AM ET
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Posted by: Yasmine saibou | September 13, 2007 4:44 PM
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WOW! Mr. Pinder as the principal. this could be interesting, he seems like a bery student oriented person, and i really hope he can bring good news to McKinley, most of the latest graduated have been concerned that the school will lose its "pride and integrity" but hopefully that will not be the case, well good luck to him.