John McDonogh puts spotlight on its best and brightest

10th May 2011   ·   0 Comments

By Kelly Parker
The Louisiana Weekly Contributing Writer

In a city all too familiar with combating stereotypes, and flexing a muscle of resiliency, it should be no surprise that many 12th-graders at John McDonogh Sr. High School are proving doubters wrong; succeeding in the classroom, and prepared to take the next step academically. But you’re likely never to hear it, according to the school’s 11th- and 12th-grade academic counselor, Coti Gayles.

“Students are excelling and persevering at John McDonogh High School. Despite the city-wide violence that has plagued the New Orleans community, pre- and post-Katrina. Our students are acquiring high ACT scores and are college bound,” Gayles says.

When seniors graduate from John McDonogh on May 19, many of them will be moving on to college, by way of the TOPS program and various scholarships.

“We have a number of students who scored 18, 19, 20 and above on the ACT,” she says. “We have students that will be eligible for the state’s TOPS scholarship program, we have two students that have received scholarships to Loyola University, one student has received a scholarship to North­western State University, another to Xavier University; along with students that will receive scholarships to Delgado Community College; but that’s never heard. Everybody wants to hear about the five students who were killed. That gets more press.”

Gayles states the school is anticipating over $75,000.00 in scholarship money for the Class of 2011.

“We have to celebrate the positive things that are going on. We have to motivate our students and invest in them-as a community. Not just at John McDonogh, but all of our schools,” she added.

Despite the vast history in sports; being crowned champions in basketball, football and baseball a combined 83 years of John McDonogh’s 109-year history, the recent tragedies are what likely come to mind for most. April 14 marked the 8th anniversary of the shooting and killing of student Johnathan Williams; the incident that took place in a crowed gymnasium during a PE class made national news. And this year, the school has lost four students (four current and one former student) to murder; only adding to the stigma of violence as well as academic mediocrity.

“I wasn’t very close to any of the students involved, but it was a little crazy knowing that you could come to school and say hello to someone and find out the next day that they’re dead,” senior Yasmine Breaux told The Louisiana Weekly. “It was very hard on a lot of the students.”

Breaux is aware of the notion of many residents when it comes to the expectations of students at (John Mac), as it known by many in the New Orleans community. It’s upsetting to her; however, she has used it as a tool of motivation.

“I know we get stereotyped a lot. When we go out on field trips, sometimes people look at us like we’re criminals. I feel even though I attend John McDonogh, I have the same potential as students from charter schools.

The senior is heading to Xavier University in the fall to study pre-med, with the hopes of becoming an anesthesiologist.

“I know I am capable of doing anything I want to do.” I have big dreams and goals,” Breaux says.

“One of the things about (not only John Mac) but the RSD schools is, that when students are expelled from charter schools or private schools that have a zero tolerance policy, we have to take them. “ Coti Gayles stated. “So were dealing with those issues -being a state school, we have to enroll them. We have students from all over with all sorts of issues, and despite all of that, we still have students that are doing just as well, if not better than students in charter schools.”

Senior Donald Anderson has been accepted to American Intercontinental University in Atlanta and will pursue a career in fashion merchandising and fashion design.

He only knew of one the shooting victims from this year’s incidents (from a band class). “I think it’s important to watch the type of people you hang out with- things like (the shooting incidents) aren’t likely to happen to you if you surround yourself with people who have the same goals as you do,” Anderson said.

He knows the staff at John Mac is there to help students; however, he’s not sure if many take advantage of it. “Some students are so used to people dying; they don’t feel the need to talk to counselors here; even though they are here to help us.”

The senior briefly thought about transferring, but didn’t follow through, simply because he was focused on academics and succeeding in the classroom.

“I did think about it, but I didn’t let it get to me, because I’m doing well here.”

“Sometimes people say ‘Oh, you go to John Mac, I’d be scared for my life’ but it doesn’t get to me,” Anderson added. “I know what the school is known for, but I know what the school is doing to help us. It isn’t as bad as people may think it is.”

In addition to the school’s academic success, senior Chad Davis was one of two New Orleans students selected to attend the Steve Harvey Disney’s Dreamers Aca­demy with Essence magazine at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. And Junior Joseph Hensley, a talented visual arts student, has paintings featured in the Contemporary Art Center’s show “Today and Tomorrow” facilitated by CAC’s teen board. His art is on display until May 1.

Yasmine Breaux believes that best legacy to leave underclassmen is the example of the controlling your own path to success, regardless of circumstances.

“No matter what school you attend, no matter what people may say, it’s up to you get a good education and it’s up to you to become something in life.”

“We (as adults) have to remember to tell these young people what they can do and not what they can’t do,” Coti Gayles told The Louisiana Weekly. “Because someone motivated us-someone told us that we could achieve anything. We were 16 and 17 once. Did we do everything right? We didn’t. We made mistakes, but we persevered, and we need to let them know that they can persevere too.”

This story originally published in the April 25, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.