Dr. James Spruill joins our team as our new Principal over Michigan Technical Academy's Middle School Campus. We had a chance to interview Dr. Spruill on his new assignment.
What led you to Matchbook Learning? Describe your journey here.
After a six-year tour in the Army as a missile electronics technician, I was honorably discharged and returned home to Detroit, Michigan where I completed both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Wayne State University. From the start of my professional career I have always endeavored to meaningfully integrate and align educational technology to the curriculum. My professional journey began as a Technology Coordinator at Wayne State University’s charter school and then on Plymouth Educational Center charter school as an Assistant Principal/Technology Director. I started my own IT consulting company in 2001 providing IT support to local charter schools. In 2009, I returned to Plymouth Educational Center as Principal. I resigned from Plymouth Educational Center in 2013 and spent the next two years as a Regional Coordinator for the Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) TRIG Classroom Readiness program using a blended learning model to helping teachers to integrate educational technology for student next generation assessment success. During that time, I also completed my doctorate in Computing Technology in Education from Nova Southeastern University. My work as a Regional Coordinator led me to Matchbook Learning as I learned the Matchbook model absolutely aligns with the MDE’s statewide transition to 21st Century teaching and learning and assessment.
What most attracted you to this position? What do you think will be the biggest challenge of serving as a Matchbook School Principal?
I was most attracted to this position for the opportunity to participate in the redefining of the quality and effectiveness of education in the future particularly for a segment of the population that is historically underserved. There is an ongoing, seismic paradigm shift in education from being teacher-centered to student centered. The advent of ubiquitous technology has hastened this shift and highlighted the need to prepare students to engage critical thinking skills, creatively problem solve and possess a technological malleability. I think the most challenging aspect of my position as principal of the middle school will be facilitating the resetting of the culture to focus on the building of positive, nurturing, and supportive relationships for all stakeholders.
What are the keys to accomplishing a school turnaround?
The keys to accomplishing a school turnaround is being intentional and deliberate in building a culture of collaboration among all stakeholders, establishing and communicating high expectations for behavior and academics, regularly collecting and analyzing data to drive actions, and consistently providing individualized targeted and focused instruction. Culture is key because a positive culture will provide crucial support for the other key areas or unintentionally undermine/deliberately sabotage those other key areas. High expectations must not only be established but constantly reinforced through communication in order to ensure fidelity of actions required to achieve the identified goals. Data driven decision making is key because it will ensure efficient and effective allocation and use of finite resources. Last, the most effective way to turnaround a school is one student at a time. This is best accomplished by customizing instruction to fit the specific needs (usually unmet needs) of each and every student with the necessary supports.
What are your goals for this next year? What are your expectations a year from now and how will you be different?
One of my goals for next year is to exceed the academic growth targets as identified by the authorizer and MDE. Another one of my goals will be at least a fifty percent decrease in disciplinary incidents. Additionally, I want MTA Middle School to retain 90% of the current staff and 100% of the student population. I also have a goal of installing a Maker Space in the bay area. Last, I want to realize the goal of having the entire stakeholder community completing an annual school climate survey in order to be able facilitate continuous improvement. Next year I will be different in that I will have established and nurtured positive relationships with students, parents, teachers, staff, administration and the community.
Why should gifted educators consider working for a Matchbook school?
I would highly recommend gifted educators to work for Matchbook Learning because of the company’s capacity to nurture and grow the reason we went into teaching – to make a positive and lasting impact in the lives of students. Matchbook Learning is best positioned to help educators realize that goal due to the company’s commitment to leveraging the most powerful aspects of technology for 21st Century teaching and learning.
Lastly, what do you like to do in your spare time? Offer a glimpse of who you are or what you are like outside of the working day.
I am an unabashedly a sports fanatic. I believe the only reason to have cable is for ESPN and CNN. I start watching college football on Thursday night. I go to the high school games on Fridays. I attend PAL league games on Saturday mornings and watch college on Saturday evenings. After church on Sundays, I watch the NFL games. I conclude with Monday Night Football. Nirvana for me is October when it is the baseball playoffs and football (college and pro) and basketball (college and pro) seasons overlap.
