John H Reagan High School - Spur Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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c o ■4- 0) C 1 -o m M tm tl€lL tO t£|gkp - ' Q ' The goal of all the principals this year was to raise Reagan ' s scores on the STEP tests, and to increase attendance. Mr. Jimmy Viranontes, principal, explained how these were part of a long-range plan: We have one-year and five-year goals. The five-year goal is to improve academics and make Reagan at or above national norms on the STEP tests. To do this, we adopted a new attendance policy; we had teachers give progress reports to all students (where previously only failing students received progress reports); and, instead of just basic classes (Social Studies, Math, English, Science) giving finals, all classes were required to give (written) final exams. Besides trying to improve Reagan academical- ly, the principals had everyday duties to deal with. For example. Assistant Principal Oscar Kellner had the job of issu ing school ID cards, while Assistant Principal Joe Leonard had to worry about teaching civil defense. Mr. Viramontes had to deal with payroll and leaves of absence. Then there was the everyday problem of discipline that all the principals were involved with. Luckily, this year, it wasn ' t so bad. We ' ve had real good students this year, Mr. Viramontes said. No serious problems at all. As 1 said on the announcements, the Senior Class was superb. Each year the students are improv- ing, and I hope it continues. Reagan ' s three deans became assistant prin- cipals this year, making the school ' s total number of principals this year six (one principal and five assistant principals). The other three assistant principals were Mr. Jack Louis, Mr. Charles Gorin and Ms. Estella Wills. We had consulted with the superintendent of (Right): Budgets, payrolls, curriculums. bulleiins and announcements, honors and awards were just some of the things that demanded Principal Jimmy Viramontes ' attention during the day. (Far right): Not only did Assistant Principal Joe Leonard oversee building maintenance, but he also managed to keep track of textbooks, lockers, and insurance forms, among other duties. schools for years to get the title changed. All the other schools except for Austin and LBJ have the assistant principals. It was more for it to just have the title than anything else. Nothing really changed, said Mr. Viramontes. Assistant Principal Gorin agreed, It hadn ' t changed my job at all. It was just a title change, to make the schools consistent. The best part of his job. Assistant Prin- cipal Gorin said, was seeing a change. Well, you know, we work with discipline, and when you see someone with a behavior problem and causing trouble, change, that ' s the best aspect of the job — when you see some results. You know, we don ' t get a thrill from suspension and detention. But we have to do it sometimes to see a change. Scheduling student activities and fund-raisers were just a few ' of the many duties that kept Assistant Principal Oscar Kellner busy throughout the year. At the annual tree-planting ceremony. Principal Jimmy Viramontes congratulates Mr. Intramural , Health teacher Lawrence Britton on his retirement. Vhen she wasn ' t in the student parking lot checking parking spaces. Tenth grade Assistant Principal Estella Wills was in her office dealing with sophomores ' problems. 124

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ne day this |reH)branc f- i birds; Lyaell n«uld like that. Sotm day this jreW)bran will ov ide a home for the birds; Lyaell »«iild like that. said Mr. jim Suggs, husband of Reagan ' s Business teacher Mrs. Lynell Suggs, who died January 2}. Mr. Suggs and his son Dale bestow the traditienal kr» on W branches of the live oak tree planted oiwhelftagan campus in memory of Mrs. Suggs. (Far left): Resource teacher Freddye C ' airo helps students in a pre-vocational lab, which they take before being employed in on-the-job training. (Left): Retiring after a teaching career that spanned 34 years (the last two of which were spent at Reagan), Resource teacher Lydia Sclaes shovels dirt over the roots of the tree planted on the Reagan campus in her honor. 1 plan to travel and enjoy life now, she said. 70 CD CO O c o CD 9o CD CD CD CO 123

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Attendance, discipline, fees ami obligations all come with their own forms of paperwork and memos, which Eleventh and Twelfth Grade Assistant Principal Charles Gorin has covering his walls and desk almost constantly. (Far left) Good-naXira SiSi nt Principal ChArlc Gorio climbs down from high abovr ihe gym aficr being hit in the face wiib a pie at a pep rally skil, tLeft) Audtaml Prm- ctpa i Esiella Vilb and Jack Louis pauie lo chat during a vheo studenir iren ' i pounding on iheir doors. (Above) AISD Board »f Trm ttti. Ed Small. Jerry Nugent. Manuel Navarro. Will DaOs. Nan Clayioo. Steve Ferguson. Dr. Peter Vemer. and Dr. John Ellis (supenDlendent). Joe Leonard Jack Louis Estella Wills Charles Gorin I Principal Ninth Grade Principal Tenth Grade Principal Elevenib Twelfib 3 -4- ■■■• o 125