Entering ESH Greene Elementary on a Tuesday afternoon, you’ll
find that though the bell has long since run, there are teachers still working
to enrich the lives of students. Of all the commitments a principal can make, students are the most important; thus, there’s nothing more reassuring about the quality of an administrator than catching one working face-to-face with a student, and new principal Linda Sims was doing just that.

Principal Sims is a Virginia State University graduate who received her M.A. in Administrative
Supervision in 1998. She had taught for ten years. She began teaching at Clark
Springs Elementary and later taught at Albert Hill Middle. She returned to Clark
Springs as an Assistant Principal in 1998 and her administrative career
included a year at Reed Elementary, but this is her first year as a principal.

Principal Sims has found the RPS Principal Support Team very
effective in helping her make the transition from assistant principal. Even
more so, she says, “The team at Greene has been really supportive and that team
teaching has been really powerful adding extra strength in the programs.”

When asked about her inspiration to become an administrator,
she said “I felt that I had a lot to share with other teachers. I have picked
up a number of strategies that I wanted to share. An administrator wanted me to
share a method I was using in the classroom with other staff. Once I had shared
it the teachers took that and began using it in other classes.”

Perhaps one of Principal Sims greatest qualities is her
evident compassion for students. “We know that S.O.L.s are very important but
we also try to build the feeling in children that they can do this. We have to
make sure that they believe in themselves. I always tell them, if I can do this,
you can do this.” She reminisced, “I had a child who came in who could
accomplish no academic tasks. And since then he has really blossomed. Just
helping a child know that we believe in him can make the difference.”

Principal Sims showed that she is not unrealistic when she
observed, “Greene is a good school. We have some avenues that we can work
toward to make this a great school. To make it a top school nationwide. When we
pull together for the children we will thrive.”

Of the positive happenings at the school she said, “We have
had an increase in technology use including putting attendance on line and
using more technology in the classroom. We are trying to increase parental
involvement by creating a family center.

We had a family day with 25 parents who came and signed up
to volunteer.”

Sims said that one of the biggest challenges facing the
school is the influx of Hispanic students in the school, but significant
progress has been made to accommodate non-English speakers.

“At this point, we’re trying to bring in more ESL classes.
Almost 40% of our students are Hispanic. We’ve also made voluntary personal
commitments to take Spanish classes, so that staff can better communicate with
the growing Hispanic community. Two teachers went abroad and they brought back
a lot of information. We have at least five or six interpreters available daily.
We have a Spanish teacher give announcements and character development in the
morning. Also, all correspondence is translated and we have an interpreter at Parent
Teacher Association meetings. This is Spanish heritage month and we have
instructors making displays.” Sims also said that many of the students, who are
predominately black Americans, often ask how to translate words into Spanish and
really enjoy learning from their peers.

Perhaps Greene’s most
well known attribute is that it has taken on a voluntary uniform policy again.
Some years ago Greene had implemented the program, but Sims said her motivation
was a concern for the costs parents had to pay for back-to-school clothes.
Though there are many who may argue the issue, the fact that it is voluntary
makes the situation one that does not put pressure on anyone and so far, the
buy-in to the idea has really flourished.

“Everyone, even our custodial staff, has taken to wearing
uniforms. Monday through Thursday we encourage everyone to wear uniforms. The Parent Teacher Association has brought
clothing and the support and collaboration is strong here. Sims takes this
effort personally and said her husband even pitches in by helping get the
uniforms laundered.

Finally, on community outreach, Sims said, “It was fantastic
to see all the parents who came to the opening ceremony. Parents are one of our
key ingredients to success. We have teamed up with the boys and girls club as
well as working with management at the Southwood Apartments.”

Thanks again to Principal Linda Sims for taking her time to
share with www.SouthsideRichmond.org,
we wish you a fantastic school year.

People interested in viewing the article and pictures from
the opening ceremony may click here.

Heretofore the best school opening rally I have been to has to be Greene Elementary.

The event began with administration, teachers, parents, and students touring the neighborhood on a bus. Then parents, children, and faculty witnessed a show that began with a local church organization sponsored drum line that consisted of 7-13 year olds that was absolutely amazing. Following was a fashion show where somewhat stage frightened students and humorously prancing faculty strutted the new optional uniform look.

Three students modeling this year’s optional uniforms.

See more photos from the event in the full article.

That’s right, you read it, the uniforms are optional. Either there was a mistake made in the WRIC 8 article, which seemed to indicate that uniforms would be mandatory or there has been a shift in policy.

After the fashion show, some faculty, and would you believe it, the principal, Linda Sims and 9th district school board representative Evette Wilson joined in a salsa dance. The show concluded with a shaolin kung-fu demonstration and a dinner.

Congratulations to Principal Sims on her appointment to Greene Elementary

and for an amazing start to the new school year!

Parents and Faculty Enjoy the Show

The Drumline!

Evette Wilson, Principal Sims, and a staff member dancing.