Thomas A Edison High School - Talon Yearbook (Fairfax County, VA)

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Principal Strives to Perfect Every Facet of Academic Life MR. WOODROW T. ROBINSON Principal From early morning until long after dismissal time, Thomas A. Edison’s principal, Woodrow T. Robinson, is in constant motion trying to create a workable administration and a smooth¬ ly-operating school. Every facet of the academic life of the school—the administration, the faculty, and the student—is given special attention by Mr. Robinson. The principal holds frequent meetings with the assistant principals and guidance members to schedule student and faculty activities, to make policy regula¬ tions, and to discuss school discipline. In periodic meetings with the faculty and heads of depart¬ ments, Mr. Robinson discusses the latest advances in teaching methods and instructional equipment. To gain further insight into the administration of a school, the principal attends monthly instructional meetings for principals of Fairfax County and travels to state-wide and Southern Association of Secondary School conferences. The third part of the academic sphere, the student, is a very important concern of the principal. Mr. Robinson communicates with many students through individual counseling and speaks directly to all of Edison’s students at assembly programs and over the P.A. system. Students and faculty respect and appreciate Mr. Robinson’s conscientious efforts in working to make Edison a model school. Mr. Robinson interrupts busy schedule to talk to Jean Banigan. 0

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. . . challenging . . . attentive . . . frustrating . . . apathetic . . . exhausting . . . rewarding A CADEMICS having your homework finished

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Alan Beamer, Assistant Principal for Administration, has wide and varied responsibilities: caring for school inventory and maintenance, repair of the school building, management of bus transportation, student discipline, and the public address system. Although Mr. Beamer fre¬ quently attends conferences with the Assistant Superin¬ tendent of Fairfax County and assists Edison’s principal, the majority of his work concerns Edison’s students. In the cafeteria, on the athletic field, during assemblies, and school dances, Mr. Beamer acts at all times with the student in mind. Exemplifying his belief that Youth should have every opportunity to get the most out of their high school education, Mr. Beamer counsels students to make their high school years a profitable experience. Through his counselling he tries to show the student the importance of being a good school citizen thus preparing him to be an acceptable member of society. “I personally feel that the majority of Edison’s student body is good, and I feel quite proud of the caliber of tbe students.” Frequently during impromptu locker room ses¬ sions, Mr. Beamer gives pep talks to team members to promote school spirit. He has livened up the lunch periods on more than one occasion by piping music into the cafeteria. Though Mr. Beamer’s position sometimes brings minor disappointments, he remains a staunch supporter of Edisonites. MR. ALAN L. BEAMER Assistant Principal of Administration Assistant Principals Work in Interest of Students MISS CHARLOTTE ZEIGLER Assistant Principal for Instruction Last year’s Director of Guidance, Miss Charlotte Zeigler, is now demonstrating her administrative abilities in a new position, that of Assistant Principal for Instruction. Although this is a new job for her at Edison, Miss Zeigler has served as vice-principal in several schools in Virginia and has been a guidance director in various elementary and high schools and a teacher of mathematics, Latin, and English. As supervisor of instruction. Miss Zeigler observes classes, assists in the selection of class materials and in plcUining the curriculum. Miss Zeigler stated that the curriculum is deter¬ mined by the student and his needs. She is trying to work out programs which will be of interest to all types of students. One program of this type has been introduced this year, the vocational training program. Miss Zeigler says, “I would like to see a program of studies established which would be so diversified that there would be something in it for every student thus motivating him to learn.” She works with the guidance teachers to introduce new courses such as trigonometry and advanced composition this year and Russian next year. For seniors next year two new courses will be offered, world literature and analysis. Miss Zeigler is interested in and feels close to the students and their interests, and she misses the contact which she had with them in her former position. The Assistant Principal for Instruction thinks that the most important thing for a student to develop is an attitude of always trying to do his best. This is not only important here in high school but in years to come, also. II