Crossley takes aim at graduation promise
Hope Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Crossley reads from the Junior Auxiliary Prayer as
he presents his vision of expanding opportunities for HPS students within the next four years to the
Hope JA chapter. – Ken McLemore/Hope Public Schools
HOPE – The promise of graduation from high school is the gateway to career, service
and life, Hope Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Crossley told the Hope
Junior Auxiliary in an Aug. 23 presentation.
Working from the premise that within four years the HPS will bring a 12 percent student
dropout rate at Hope High School down to zero, Dr. Crossley said a key reason for
losing students prior to graduation has been a failure to have students understand their
opportunities.
“I believe every student should graduate,” Crossley said.
That possibility stems now more than ever from three pathways which the HPS offers
that he wants students, parents and the community to understand, including: the Hope
High School-University of Arkansas at Hope Concurrent Credit program where students
earn college credit for coursework while in high school; the HPS/UAH Career-Technical
Education program where students earn certification credit for coursework while in high
school; the Hope Collegiate Academy where students earn an Associate of Arts degree
while in high school; and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program
where students earn rank credit for ROTC coursework while in high school.
Each program is an investment in a student’s future, Crossley said.
“After three years of ROTC, a student can graduate as an E1 in the US Air Force,” he
said. “That is a difference of $36,000 per year in their pocket immediately.”
Crossley said one misconception he has found is students and parents believed all of
those concepts competed with the regular high school curriculum and diploma, when
they are actually dual pathways to graduation from Hope High School and
college/career or military preparation.
“It’s our job as adults to make the best decisions for kids to get these things done,”
Crossley said. “I’m making the promise to get this done in the next four years.”
He said for every dollar invested in each student that graduates from Hope High School,
that student potentially returns $7 to the community where they live and work.
“For too long, we have been too okay with the dropout rate,” Crossley said.
He said the HPS should and will take interest not only in students to help them succeed
but in their families as well. Crossley said he arrived at the JA meeting almost late
because he was working on a problem with a single mother whose four children
attended four different HPS campuses.
“If I can’t work that out, I don’t deserve to stand here before you,” he said. “I believe in
people; and, we can’t do it without you. You are part of the solution.”
Crossley said his father graduated from high school after two interruptions to help
support his family.
“He didn’t have an advocate,” he said. “Each of you can be an advocate.”