Last week, the Bishop Hall faculty had the honor of hearing Richard Johnson and Lana Hicks speak about the history of Bishop Hall. The two respectively served as headmaster and assistant principal at Bishop Hall from 1999 until 2014. The charter school is approaching its 25th anniversary, and the guest speakers motivated the teachers by offering encouraging words to help them bring about student success.
Recognizing the need to decrease the dropout rate and increase the graduation rate of Thomas County Schools, past Superintendent Dr. Terry Solana was instrumental in obtaining a charter from the Georgia Department of Education and hiring Richard Johnson to be the first headmaster. Only seven teachers were hired when the school opened. In the beginning, Bishop Hall served approximately 60 students, later increasing that number to 110. It presently serves 220 children in the Thomas County area. The inaugural students created the identity and culture of Bishop Hall, designing the school's logo, choosing its colors, and electing to wear uniforms.
Johnson credits the success of Bishop Hall Charter School for increasing the graduation rates and for the strong relationships between the students and the teachers. Non-traditional approaches to education and experiential learning provided students and teachers with hands-on opportunities that engaged in holistic learning. Everyone worked hard to help students reach their goals and succeed. As students were learning, teachers were as well. The faculty attended national charter school conventions and visited other charter schools with the help of grants and extra funds.
Lana Hicks served as assistant principal for 15 years and loved every moment of it. She said that the job was about having fun, watching kids succeed and learning what works for each student. She also shared that the motto of Bishop Hall was and still is, "The choices we make dictate the lives we lead.”
Dr. Verna Wiggins, the current principal, said, “For 24 years, it has been an educational journey that has impacted students, educators, and our community in many ways. Many Bishop Hall graduates have moved on and made an impact on our community. The faculty works hard to help students succeed, nurture, and love each other. Helping our students reach their goals through differentiated instruction holistically is our focus.”
A 28-year veteran of education, Dr. Retha Lee, enthusiastically expressed her love and honor of teaching and learning with some of the brightest and most engaging students in our community. These experiences have led to the creation of the student-led book club and facilitating of a Songwriting Is Writing project where students wrote, recorded lyrics with music, and published their recordings.
Teacher Louise Phillips said, “Bishop Hall is a hidden gem and a place for second chances.”
Seventh-year teacher at Bishop Hall, Mr. Austin Davis, shared a story of an interaction with a student. The student had just transferred to Bishop Hall and looked anxious about being at the school. Davis took a little time to make sure she was adjusting well. This young woman not only acclimated to Bishop Hall, but she also became the driving force for the book club.
“Bishop Hall has always battled with misconceptions in the community, and we sometimes have to defend our school,” said school counselor Melissa Rodgers. “In reality, Bishop Hall is a great school to be part of. Our charter school is an opportunity for kids who don't feel like they fit in with the traditional school model, but still want to learn and succeed."
Veteran educator and Thomas County Commissioner Jeremy G. Rich stated, “Bishop Hall Charter School continues to be at the nexus of public and private partnerships that positively attribute to student success. Local philanthropic support and access to public funds afford enriching opportunities for our students to experience learning beyond the brick-and-mortar classroom, including museum visits, camping, hiking, whitewater rafting, scuba diving, pottery, archery, and other diverse activities.”
Learning experiences for students include trips to Washington, D.C. and various historic sites in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. These experiences foster a positive alliance that bridges the relationships between students and teachers.
Principal Dr. Wiggins added, “As we look forward and continue to move towards next year, the 25th anniversary of the start of Bishop Hall, we will continue our mission to provide a diverse and nurturing educational experience that engages students in building a foundation for life-long learning. Bishop Hall has a long history of meeting students where they are and will continue to recognize that each student is unique.”
The former first lady, Barbara Bush, was instrumental in promoting the National Charter School movement in hopes of helping educators to raise graduation rates for students in need of a different style of instruction. The concept of Bishop Hall Charter School was supported and funded by then superintendent, Dr. Terry Solana, and local philanthropists, Richard Singletary, of the Singletary Foundation, Marguerite Williams of the Williams Family Foundation, and Langdon Flowers of the Flowers Family Foundation.