Dr. Tyrone Gonder may be new to the role of Ninth Grade Assistant Principal at Baldwin High School, but he's already paving the way for student success. In addition to inaugurating the Summer Bridge Program, Dr. Gonder and Ninth Grade Counselor Christy Hinton planned and organized the school's first Freshmen Commitment Ceremony.
"The Freshmen Commitment Ceremony was an opportunity for us to bring our students in, and have a talk with them about the value of making a commitment," said Gonder, "and what greater value of commitment to make for our Freshman Academy students than to commit to graduate?"
The Baldwin County School District has been celebrated for having a rising graduation rate since 2014, increasing the rate by 19 points and surpassing the state average. A commitment to graduate has been part of the District culture during Superintendent Noris Price's tenure, and the BHS Commitment Ceremony is a strong reminder to all students of the importance of graduation. "I emphasized to them that this ceremony was not for us, the staff, but for them," Gonder said, "and I wanted them to absorb the moment, what was happening because I wanted it to be a memorable part of their Freshman year."
Because this was a first-time event for Baldwin High School, Dr. Gonder and Mrs. Hinton were faced with the issue of creating the ceremonial steps for students that would provide them with the impact and focus needed to express their level of commitment. Mr. Rick Roderick was the keynote speaker and students signed a banner.
"What greater value of commitment to make for our Freshman Academy students than to commit to graduate?"
Freshman Student Jemia Stubbs said she felt like the ceremony was effective at making her and others understand the level of importance that comes with graduation, "My graduation from Oak Hill Middle school was good, but it's nothing compared to ninth grade," she said. "We've taken a big step with ninth grade because it's a lot different... we have to get credits." Stubbs wants to be an artist and entrepreneur once she graduates, and is already designing clothes and has her LLC. "I felt like the ceremony was important because they're showing us how dedicated we should really be and to take high school seriously. Our ninth grade year is our most important year, because how you start your ninth grade year is how you will end your twelfth grade year."
Dr. Gonder and Mrs. Christy Hinton's Commitment to Graduate Ceremony has found a new way to ensure that all of Baldwin High School's ninth-graders, Class of 2026, get started off right.