August 15, 2014
MSA Student Featured in Regional Local News for Her "Spirited" Idea
Below is an article from The Wake Forest Weekly featuring current ECU College of Education Master of School Administration (MSA) student Amy Light. The MSA degree program prepares individuals to become school leaders and encourages them to serve as problem-solvers, communicators, innovators, collaborators and change agents in their respective schools and school districts. Ms. Light’s spirit rock idea utilizes educational leadership skills taught in the program.
Heritage Middle School gets in the spirit
By David Allen
WAKE FOREST — Showing off their school spirit, Heritage Middle School recently added a new fixture to their front lawn – a giant rock that can be painted with various messages or just to pump up students.
Amy Poovey Light, who will be the Interim Assistant Principal next year, has volunteered her time, since December, to work in unison with the PTA at the school to bring more character and spirit to the school.
The PTA was overwhelmingly supportive of the idea, and helped move things forward for the project.
“I saw this idea of a spirit rock, and I thought ‘Oh wow! This is great!’” Light explained. “We promote so much of a positive culture at this school, we are a Positive Behavior Intervention Support school, and we try to encourage that kind of culture in everything we do.”
Light, the PTA and the school wanted to show the community that they care about what is going on with each student.
They worked with Hanson Aggregates who was more than happy to donate the rock, and they quickly were able to get the rock picked out and moved into place.
Light said the PTA would be able to use it as a fundraiser by renting the rock out by the week so it could be repainted and be the voice of the community at Heritage,
“This area is where the children gather while waiting to be picked up,” Light said as she pointed to the grass surrounding the spirit rock. “We want what is put on the rock to spark conversation and to give recognition that a student or group that is doing something in the school.”
Article and photo courtesy of David Allen and The Wake Forest Weekly. (Image caption – Amy Poovey Light – who will be the interim assistant principal next year – looks forward to the spirit rock being repainted to showcase what is going on with the school and community each week.)