Northside News

By Anita Weier
Northside News

Jamie Sims learned much in his 12 years working in the education field in Georgia as a teacher and coach. He brought that experience and knowledge to Black Hawk Middle School in Madison, where he began working in the 2015-16 school year as dean of students and steadily advanced to assistant principal, interim principal and then full principal.

This summer he is also the summer school principal at Black Hawk and Gompers Elementary School down the hallway, and he is teaching an educational leadership course at Edgewood College.

Sims, 38, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of West Georgia and his Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Edgewood College.

“In the first year as principal at Black Hawk, we majored in behavior and minored in academics. Then we switched to majoring in academics and minoring in behavior management,” he said of his goals. “I am here to make sure our kids are learning and having high expectations. In my second year I was recognized by the district as restorative justice leader for restorative justice practices in our school.”

Now he has changed from focusing on restorative justice to transformative justice. “Transformative justice focuses on transforming behaviors instead of restoring what may be unwanted mindsets, attitudes and ways of life that need transforming,” he said. “Restorative/transformative justice has a significant impact on how we approach and deal with issues related to academics and behaviors. It is a proactive approach — an overall mindset to issues related to academics and behavior.”

At Black Hawk, he guides up to 450 pupils in sixth through eighth grades.

“It is a moldable time, going through a growing phase and recognizing who they are and who they want to be for their futures,” he said. “We focus on building positive and authentic relationships with our kids. Kids don’t care how much you know until they first know how much you care.”

For example, he added, “There have been instances where students feel they have not been heard. I bring them into the office and have them tell me what is going on. I let them express themselves without interrupting. They feel valued, so they can be open and honest.”

He tracks progress through school culture and climate as well as test scores. “Last school year we hit a highlight. Some African-American students with disabilities met reading and math proficiency standards,” he noted with pride.

Sims’ main goal for the 2019-20 school year will continue to be equity for students of all races. He says that black children have been underserved, and he and his staff are committed to black excellence. 

“We are getting close to 80 percent low-income students, so we have free breakfast and lunch, and an anonymous donor provides bus passes,” Sims added. The Madison Needs Network also conducted a drive that provided food and school supplies.

Such efforts help the whole student, who can then better focus on academics, he stressed. Sims strives to use best practices to help build community and relationships with students. These include how students are greeted and the tone used with them.

“We try to fix unwanted or inappropriate behaviors on the spot and support redirections,” he added. “We give students the opportunity to take a break to refocus and independently problem solve. We try to make all students feel safe, welcomed, valued and respected.”