Sylvia Morrison, principal of Northwest HS, is this year’s winner of the Mark Mann Excellence and Harmony Award, given annually to one local school administrator who has shown an exceptional ability to encourage academic excellence, positive human relations and strong community outreach.
“She inspires me in the way she goes about her work,” Superintendent Jerry D. Weast said upon presenting Morrison with the award at the Sept. 20 administrative and supervisory meeting. Children are her passion, Weast noted. “It’s a legacy from her family–– a legacy she has passed on to thousands and thousands of children at one of our largest high schools.”
Morrison came to Northwest HS after serving as a teacher and assistant principal at a number of schools. She opened Shady Grove MS as its new principal in 1999.
Once at Northwest, she quickly took the lead in initiating a broad range of programs to ensure student success. In her four years at Northwest HS, the graduation rate has increased significantly, while the dropout rate has decreased. A higher number of students are taking the SAT and enrolling in Honors and AP classes. For example, from 2002-2005, the number of African American students enrolled in at least one Honors- or AP-level class increased by 22 percent.
Northwest was the county’s first high school to initiate and embrace the Collaborative Action Process, a plan established to identify incoming freshmen with academic diffi culties and guide them throughout their high school years. Morrison infl uenced development of the school’s fi ve new academies of biotechnology, fi nance, commercial and fi ne arts, child development studies and engineering.
She has expanded the school’s Internship Program to create relationships with more than 100 local businesses. Through the school’s College Institute, students can take classes at Montgomery College during their senior year.
Morrison initiated a schoolwide, bimonthly advisory period to enhance students’ knowledge on issues such as drug use, drunk driving and study skills. She also helped launch additional SAT preparation courses within the school.
Morrison is recognized for building strong relationships and being actively involved in all aspects of the school community. She has established countless organizations and programs to build relations among students, teachers, parents and administrators. Her effort to involve teachers and parents in students’ learning is evident every day in the classroom, at departmental meetings and at parent seminars.
In the area of community outreach, Northwest, with Morrison’s guidance, has developed an outreach program with Black Rock Center for the Arts. Professional artists work with students, and students are able to exhibit their work at Black Rock’s gallery. The Columbia Center for Performing Arts also has adopted the school and created an outreach program.
Northwest also has partnered with Longview School for students with severe to profound disabilities. Through the program, Longview high school-age students visit Northwest and interact with other students their age. In turn, a group of Northwest students visits Longview and engage the students in activities.