Two things stood out to Mandy Green during her first few days as the new principal at Good Hope Middle School.
The faculty is more like family, and sixth graders look a lot different than the high school students she was used to being around for the past 24 years at West Monroe High School.
“We’ve had S.O.A.R. (Student Orientation and Academic Resources) on campus for the summer, so I can tell you the first thing that shocked me was their size and age,” Green said from her new office.
Her title and location may have changed, but Green said her approach to her new students will still be the same.
“I think kids are kids,” Green said. “Whether they’re in 6th grade or 12th grade, they want to know that you care about them. They want to know that you care about what they care about, and they want to know that you are there to help them. So in that respect, I don’t think it’s going to be a huge jump because those three things are consistent always.”
Green started her teaching career on the middle school level. Albeit, it was for one semester at Woodlawn Middle School to fill in for a teacher, it started her down her path as an educator. She spent 9 years as an English teacher at West Monroe, and then 6 years as the coordinator for the Freshman Academy. She became assistant principal at West Monroe in 2014.
No matter her job title, Green thrived on working closely with the students and helping them find their talents and joys in life.
“Everything happens in the classroom … that is what we are here for. But so many times it’s those things outside of the classroom that get kids to school, and that they can become passionate about, and that gives them experiences that they have a lifetime of enjoyment from, “Green said. “There are so many things that they learn to do in school, whether it be playing an instrument, singing in the choir, playing football or tennis or basketball, whatever they’re passionate about. Those are the things that bring them a lifetime of enjoyment and raise the quality of their life and their life experiences.”
Her various roles in the education system also ignited Green’s other passion – supporting teachers.
“I work really hard to build those relationships with the faculty so that they feel very comfortable coming to me with their needs,” Green said. “I’ve said so many times, ‘The magic happens in the classroom.’ It doesn’t happen in this office, and so I want to give them the tools, the support and the backing so that they can do their job the best possible way.”
Green is spending the summer getting to know her staff. She plans to meet with teachers and pick their brains about what makes Good Hope so special and what she can do to make it even better.
“Many of the teachers who are here have been here for a while, and so they’ve all built these great relationships with each other and with the school and the community, where they really support each other,” Green said. “They’ve all just welcomed me into the family, and it’s just like, ‘We’re happy you’re here. Come on in. Let us show you around,’ and they’ve all made great first impressions on me.”
THE GREEN FILE
Spring 1999 – Woodlawn Middle School, English & Louisiana History
Fall 1999-2008 – West Monroe High School, English IV
2008-2014 – West Monroe High School, Freshman Academy, Coordinator
2014-2023 – West Monroe High School, Assistant Principal
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