Tubman Middle School has made AYP for the first time and many parents and teachers are crediting Principal Wayne Frazier.

“The kids were having a lot of problems. A lot of fighting and different stuff,” said Mildred Burnett, the great-grandmother of a Tubman student.

“It was a little unpredictable and a lot of changes very frequently,” said Dana Frank, Tubman Middle teacher.

Then Frazier came along and sort of saved the day.

“When he got here, there was something better,” said Burnett.

Frazier became the principal at Tubman only six months ago, but things are already a lot different.

“There's a lot more order in the school. He's always around, he knows the students, he has relationships with the students,” said Frank.

“Frazier put his foot down. Before he got there I think they did pretty near what they wanted,” said Burnett.

When he first arrived, Frazier decided to go door to door meeting the parents of his students to make sure they would make it to class every day.

“We had to get them in the building. Once we get them here it's my job to make sure it’s the right atmosphere for learning and teaching to take place,” said Frazier.

Frazier and his new ideas helped Tubman overcome many hurdles. Maybe the most celebrated achievement is the school making AYP this year. But for Frazier it is not the most important.

“Yes, I want to make AYP, but more importantly I want to be sure in my mind at the end of every day that we have made a difference academically,” he said.

Teachers can't wait for students to return to school in a couple of weeks. Then everyone can celebrate their achievements and how their hard work has paid off.

“Oh, I can't wait till they come back and we can show them their scores. I can't wait,” said Frank.

Frazier wants to propose a challenge to the community. He says he wants people to visit the school unannounced and sit in on classes. He will have a desk in each classroom reserved for visitors with an evaluation form and teacher's lesson plan. He says it is just another way to keep everyone at Tubman motivated.

Morgan Road Middle also made AYP status. Tubman and Morgan Road were among 19 schools that entered a contract with the state and promised to make improvements.
If they make AYP again next year, they will be removed from the list. Glenn Hills Middle, the other Richmond County school in that group, did not make AYP.

Hornsby Elementary was removed from the "needs improvement" list this year.