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Yolanda Jefferson believes that a school’s culture is determined by its leader.
As the new director of Louisiana New Tech @ Plain Dealing, she plans to maintain a positive learning environment through the school’s unique curriculum while growing the school and community as a whole.
Jefferson made the move to Plain Dealing from Haughton High School, where she spent eight years as assistant principal. She said although it may be hard adjusting to the New Tech learning style, it’s one she’s ready to take on.
Jefferson, a Grambling native, said the transition into her new role and town was easy because she can relate to students on a personal level.
“I’m from the small town with the close-nit community where everybody knew everybody,” she said. “I feel like I understand what it’s like for these kids growing up in a small community and I want to be a role model and example for these students to understand that you can make something out of yourself coming from a small town. Whatever they want to do, they can do it.”
Jefferson described herself as a motivator, team player and authoritative when needed.
“I am firm, consistent and will always be fair,” she said. “I follow the rules and enforce them because people like consistency. I don’t play favorites.”
Her goals for this year include improving state test scores, motivating teachers and students with a ‘no excuses’ attitude, maintaining a high level of success in academics and extracurricular activities and getting the community involved more in school functions.
“We will work together as a team and not let failure be an option,” she said. “We may fall a little, but we will pick each other back up. We are not going to fail.”
Most importantly, Jefferson is hoping for a strong score from the New Tech evaluation this year and implementing additional changes from the state level.
Due to the New Tech learning method, Jefferson said Plain Dealing students are already a step ahead.
“They are already integrating the common core values that other schools are just now transitioning to,” she said. “It’s all part of the New Tech curriculum so we’re actually ahead right now. We just need the equipment to keep up.”
Technology is the key element to running a New Tech school, Jefferson said. She attended the national New Tech conference in Michigan over the summer to familiarize herself on what it takes to run a school of its type.
“The challenging part is not having all of the electronic equipment needed to function as a New Tech school,” she said. “New Tech requires us to have a 1:1 ratio for students and devices.”
A major setback came during the April special election when the public voted against the school board’s proposed recurring technology fund. Those funds, she added, would have been useful with keeping New Tech updated with the latest and greatest educational tools.
“Our school strictly runs on technology. We don’t use textbooks at all,” she said. “The bond issue could have helped us get the technology we really need.”
Instead, Jefferson said they will rely on the equipment already available and what students are allowed to bring with them. She also hopes to find sponsorships and implement fundraisers in the future to raise enough funds for technology.
“This school already allows students to bring in their own technology, but we’re going to have to depend on that a little bit more until we can get sponsors and fundraisers going,” she said.
She added that the town of Plain Dealing and school alumni will play a vital role in the school’s future.
“If we can get the community involved, we could really do some things and make things happen,” she said.
With anything new, there are sure to be changes. Jefferson hopes the Louisiana New Tech family will be supportive and accepting of the new rules and policies in order to achieve the significant academic, social and athletic success she hopes to achieve this year.
“I’ve gone from Bucs to Lions and I’m happy about it.”