PAISD: Dean of Discipline already making impact

Описание: PORT ARTHUR- Jessica Crawford
Port Arthur ISD says Memorial High School's new Dean of Discipline is already making an impact on the school.
The position was created in June to address behavior issues at the school.
Former Beaumont ISD principal, Lorenzo Carr, has been on the job for three weeks.
He says there are a few main issues he's addressing.
"Misbehavior in the classroom," says Carr. "Students not following teacher's directives."
So far, he says he's noticed an improvement.
"A lot of that centers around maybe our sophmores who are new to our campus," says Carr. "We're trying to get them acclimated to how we do things here at Memorial and so far so good."
One way he reaches out to students is making surprise visits to classrooms.
"When students sense that administrators are going to come into the class rooms and they're gonna come into the classrooms unannounced, it tends to keep them on best behavior."
Some students welcome it.
"When the teacher is talking I want to like, listen to her, I don't want any distractions," says Clonie Ambroise, a student.
Senior Yubitza Estrada agrees.
"When you're trying to do your work and the teacher has to take time out of teaching to discipline the student," says Estrada. "Now with the Dean of Discipline I actually notice people actually changing."
Carr also works with police officers to make sure crime outside the school doesn't make it inside.
But some teens still misbehave.
"Kid may have had a rough evening," says Carr. "Mother may not have been at home. Domestic violence or something to that nature."
Some infractions are taken on a case-by-case basis. Others, like drugs, have a definite punishment every time.
Carr says discipline is less about giving punishment and more about doing what will help students.
"Sometimes you just want to vent," he says. "We try to encourage our administrators and our teachers: take time and listen to the students. That means the world for them. That makes the difference."