In some ways, Jill Levine has traveled many miles to arrive where she is. In other ways, she has been there all along.
Today, Levine finds herself as the principal of not one, but two magnet school campuses. First, she led Normal Park Museum Magnet School, a kindergarten through fifth- grade program, into national prominence when the Magnet Schools of America selected it as the top magnet school in the United States in 2005. Designation as a National School of Excellence began that same year and continued for the next three years. Support from parents and the community is just one component of the school’s success, and it was the catalyst for extending the program and philosophy into middle school. Now Jill is also principal of the second campus, known as Normal Park Museum Magnet Upper School. Both schools are affiliated with seven area museums, and the school buildings themselves become museums four times each year on Exhibit Nights. Dividing her days between the two schools, Jill Levine relies on her Blackberry, computer, and an excellent staff to manage it all. But Jill’s story begins long before the events of the past five years.
Growing up in Boston, Levine was surrounded by family dedicated to education. Both of her grandmothers were teachers, as is her mother. Their influence became a calling for her to also pursue education as a career.
After graduating from Wellesley College with majors in both music and history, Jill left Boston for New Orleans where she worked with Teach For America. That experience impacted her life and focused her career. The schools in which Jill worked were “incredibly challenging,” she remembers, but she adds, “We had a lot of successes and I loved my work.”
Her passion for working with high-needs students in urban areas turned the original two-year commitment into five years. Jill’s work included conducting summer training programs for teachers. Teach For America became the perfect training ground for Jill to develop the skills needed to be successful in that kind of setting.
While living in New Orleans, Jill met her husband, Jim, who is from Chattanooga. Together they decided that Chattanooga would be the right place to raise a family, so Jill brought her teaching experience here.
Levine began teaching at White Oak Elementary School and became involved with the standards movement, again becoming a teacher trainer and then making presentations to principals. After earning her Master’s Degree in Education Administration, Jill became assistant principal of Calvin Donaldson Elementary School before being named principal at Normal Park Museum Magnet School in 2002. Since then, Jill’s team approach, focus on reading, and introduction of small groups and learning centers have been positive components in the school’s success.
According to the Hamilton County Magnet School brochure, “days of exploration for years of discovery” is the vision lived out each day at Normal Park. These words reference the school’s working relationship with the Chattanooga African-American Museum, Creative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga History Center, Chattanooga Nature Center, Hunter Museum of American Art, Tennessee Aquarium, and the Chattanooga Zoo; relationships which allow for learning expeditions beyond the school walls and exhibit-building to highlight student work.
Levine sees the magnet school program as providing a choice. “It is a viable option for parents, a place where we do things differently,” she says. Students visit museums 25 to 30 times, which instills the perspective of using the world as a classroom, Levine believes. “Normal Park works,” she continues, “because teachers are excited. They have time to collaborate and are given support for what they need. They are encouraged to think big!”
The 2008 expansion of the Normal Park Museum Magnet School concept to the middle school level required a second campus, which was found at the Chattanooga Middle School facility. Funding for the revitalization of the building came from private donations and an outpouring of community support.
The Bring It Together renovation campaign, with Josh McManus of CreateHere as project coordinator, brought together volunteers and donations to upgrade the facility. Everyone hoped that when the doors reopened under the new banner, the school would be a source of pride to students, teachers, parents, and all stakeholders. “I have tremendous admiration for Jill,” says McManus. “She inspired me and the rest of the people who worked on the project. She was with us every day, every step of the way, rolling up her sleeves, and getting right in there to work. She led the way to do something that was bigger than what we knew we could do, and we can rest assured that she will be a good steward of the work that was done. We hope this inspires people to get involved with the schools in their neighborhoods, not just here, but in neighborhoods across the country.”
For Levine, common lessons emerged from both her experience in New Orleans and from the challenge of establishing Normal Park’s Upper School. “Don’t stop when you’re told ‘no’ when it’s going to serve kids,” she says. “Find a way.”
While much of the praise and credit are directed Jill Levine’s way, she is quick to deflect it toward others. “Although it is my picture beside the scores,” she says, “there are so many people who play a part in the successes: parents, teachers, assistant principals, volunteers, and the community. Every piece of the puzzle is important.”
She is also adamant in her belief in the successes of public education. “Great things are happening in every school,” Levine insists. “We need to magnify the positive. There are lots of great principals in this district; all our schools can be strong.”
Even with two great staffs and lots of technology, Levine admits that her current challenge is “keeping all the balls in the air.” Her roles as wife and mother are important to her, and she insists on making her children, five-year-old Sam and seven and a half-year-old Jake, high priorities. She does this with a solid commitment to her family. “I leave by 5 p.m. every day, and I do this for my kids,” she states. “Having them both at the Lower School is a great help.”
Jill manages the demands of two schools through good planning and delegation. “I believe in shared leadership with teachers and in letting other people help,” she says. “The assistant principals are great. We use an action plan with a focus for each week. It keeps us all accountable.”
Jill Levine may be Normal Park’s best cheerleader. “I am very proud that this model has worked so well that it has been replicated elsewhere in the country,” she says. “There are two schools in Miami, one in Knoxville, and one in Massachusetts following what we’ve done. It works for all kids, regardless of socio-economic status or race. All students get a strong education and the learning gaps decrease.”
Levine also believes in what is possible for public education. “This can be done in all schools. There can be a celebration of learning expressed in lots of ways. If students are engaged and motivated, they are going to learn,” she says.
When asked about her future beyond Normal Park, Levine smiles. “I totally live in the moment,” she admits. “There’s much more work to do here, and I love what I
do.”