Wilkerson Middle School
| Wilkerson Middle School | |
|
Birmingham City Schools |
| Years | ?–present |
|---|---|
| Location | 116 11th Court West, (map) East Thomas |
| Grades | 6-8 |
| Principal | Davida Hill-Johnson |
| Enrollment | 290 (2008) |
| Colors | |
| Mascot | Wildcats |
| Website | bcs.schoolwires.net |
Malachi Wilkerson Middle School is a middle school in the Birmingham City Schools system located at 116 11th Court West in the East Thomas neighborhood. It was named after Malachi Wilkerson.
A series of educational performance improvements instituted under the leadership of Diane Rivers helped the school earn recognition as the first recipient of the Rochester Institute of Technology/USA Today Quality Cup Award in 1994. When poor reading skills were identified as the underlying obstacle toward learning, a peer tutoring program was implemented that led to test score improvements in all subjects and improved discipline.
When Constance Burnes began her term as principal in 2003, discipline and achievement test scores were well below average. She instituted a system of strict discipline and accountability, including a well-equipped game room provided as a reward for high achievement. She worked closely with teachers to familiarize students with the content and format of the Alabama Reading and Math Test. She also brought in outside instructors to teach life skills, ballroom dancing and drama. The school developed an outdoor classroom with a fish pond, as well.
Wilkerson was named a "model school" by the International Center for Leadership in Education in 2008.
Principals
- Constance Burnes, 2003-2014
- Trarsha Maddox (interim), 2014
- Davida Hill-Johnson, 2014-
References
- Leech, Marie (October 23, 2008) "All work, no play no dice: Wilkerson Middle School's game room keeps grades up, students motivated." The Birmingham News