Michael F. Shaughnessy
Senior Columnist EdNews.org
Eastern New Mexico University

Last year, on July 4, 2006, Education News recognized Michael Satarino, whose school was named the number one school in America by Newsweek. In that interview, (co-conducted by Tammy Lynne Moore) we discussed his accomplishment last year.

It has recently come to our attention that again, this year, Michael Satarino is the Principal of the Number One School in America.

We congratulate him and he has been generous enough to respond to a few questions about his achievement.The interview that was conducted last year can be found at:

http://www.theednews.org/articles/205/1/An-Interview-with-Michael-Satarino-Principal-of-the-Number-One-School-In-America/Page1.html

1) First of all, congratulations on being named by Newsweek as the Number One School in America for the second year in a row. How are you feeling?

Again, I am humbled by the thought that, of all of the great secondary public schools in this nation, NEWSWEEK considers our school as Number 1.

At the same time, I am gratified that, although many people work hard every day and never receive any type of outside praise, our teachers and students have been chosen to receive this well-deserved praise twice.

2) Tell us a bit about some of the great teachers who deserve acknowledgement and recognition.

Since this is based on AP, I will mention three AP teachers who have received honors from College Board.These three teachers have been cited as having the highest passing rates in America for the subjects they teach:

Robert Glen Martin - Computer Science - he has had the highest passing rates on the Computer Science AP test for the past three years.

Richard Giddens - World Human Geography - he has had the highest passing rate on the Human Geography AP test for the past three years.

Bobby Simmons - Microeconomics - he had the highest passing rate on the AP Microeconomics test in 2006.

3) How do you go about instilling such an academic work ethic?

I consider the principal of the school to be a catalyst - the principal is to give the teachers what they need to teach their subject and the students what they need to learn their subjects.I hire teachers who have a passion about teaching their subjects and I let them teach - I do not micro-manage.

I also believe that the principal is the positive role model and the one who encourages the students to do their best. I greet the students every morning as they enter our school and I make them know that I care for them as people and not just because they are smart.I really do believe that the students don't care how much you know, they want to know how much you care. If a child believes you care for them, they will do anything you ask of them.

4) How do you go about getting community support and what has the reaction of the community been?

The reaction of the Dallas community has been great - phone calls, e-mails, letters from State Senators, etc.I think positive publicity affects the entire community, especially when it is about the public school system.We try to stay involved in the community as our students do community service projects each year and we maintain memberships in local organizations such as the Lions' Club, etc.

5) What do you have planned for NEXT YEAR?

When you become complacent, when you think you know all of the answers, when you think you're too good to be wrong - that's when you fall.Our teachers will all go to trainings this summer and I will be involved in extensive trainings with the Dallas ISD.We will learn and we will adapt - and we will continue to grow.We hope to be considered among the best high schools in the nation again next year.

Thank you for considering me worthy of this interview.

Published May 30, 2007