New Administrative Intern finds the Spartan experience a welcome challenge.
photo by Mia Nogueira
Nick Dawkins graduated from Denver East High School, and for the past six years has taught at Denver South High School, where his focus was Advanced Literature for freshmen and literature for juniors, and he also instructed the AVID program. “My early experiences in high school and college led me onto wanting to give back to my community through education. Being a teacher, I have always wanted to make a big impact on the students’ education,” said Dawkins. Being a part of the DPS system, Dawkins can relate to many of the students’ experiences: growing up in Denver, the pressures of outside influences, dreaming big about traveling and getting the opportunity to experience life outside Denver, and like some, growing up with a single parent.
“I am still new here at TJ, so I haven’t had the chance to get to know the students, but I’m really looking forward to it,” said Dawkins, who came to TJ because of an internship which includes learning from a top notch administrator who Dawkins believes has great experience at the high school level. “Mrs. Just is very good at what she does, along with the rest of the administrative staff,” said Dawkins. At TJ, Dawkins is looking at school data; specifically student data, achievements, cultural backgrounds, and test scores. Dawkins hopes his skills can add on to the school’s goal to improve test scores, increase enrollment, and promote excellent attendance. From TJ, Dawkins hopes to learn from the administrative staff and students so that he one day can become an administrator himself. “After being a teacher, it’s a natural progression to want to become an administrator,” said Dawkins, who is on a one-year assignment at TJ. Because Dawkins is not a teacher at TJ, it is hard for him to predict if he’ll be back or not. “I would love to come back, because I like the staff and goals that TJ has set for their students,” said Dawkins.
While Dawkins is adjusting to the staff, students and environment, there is one familiar face everyday that helps him on his journey. JoAnne Moreno, the school’s Administrative assistant, and Sight Assessment Leader (SAL) works with Dawkins. Moreno was also Dawkins’ Spanish teacher in high school. “I remember his great personality and leadership skills. I am happy to have the chance to work with him again, and I am proud of Mr. Dawkins for pursuing the career path of becoming an administrator,” said Moreno. “I can see him working hard right now, and the work he does is not easy. TJ is fortunate to have somebody like Mr. Dawkins with his knowledge and experience,” said Moreno.
“It’s different for me because at South I was well known, and I don’t know a lot of the staff or students here yet,” said Dawkins. One student who Dawkins does know at TJ is Junior Ashanee Moore.
Ashanee attended Denver South as a freshman and had a good relationship with Dawkins. “He is a nice, inspiring person who is passionate about his job. He is one of the best teachers that I have ever had and he helped me get through my freshman year and inspired me to do my best at all times. He didn’t just teach us about literature, but also about life lessons and experiences such as the importance of going to college. Now I want to go to college because of Mr. Dawkins, and I’m excited to have him here at TJ. I hope that my peers will become inspired like I was by Mr. Dawkins,” said Ashanee. “I remember at South, in class with Mr. Dawkins, we watched a documentary called Super Size Me, and after watching the film we learned about nutrition and made nutritional food in the class. It was a fun experience and Mr. Dawkins always knew how to make learning fun and easy.”
Dawkins is very confident he will succeed at helping to promote the goals and values at TJ. “I want to walk away better prepared from the working experience I have here at TJ,” said Dawkins, who also said he is proud to be a part of TJ, and is looking forward to the school year and meeting the rest of the staff.
Sandra Just, the school principal, is happy to have Dawkins learning and working with the administrative staff. “I believe that Mr. Dawkins will better our school; his skills match our school,” said Just, who said she expects Dawkins to help the school meet its goals, and for him to have a better idea of what kind of a leader he wants to become.
Dawkins is impressed with what he sees at TJ. “The students are welcoming and, even though I don’t know them yet, they seem like good people,” said Dawkins, who also pointed out that he looks forward to dances, sporting events and working one-on-one with students. Dawkins currently attends the University of Denver, but has also attended Metro State, Colorado University in Denver, and Oxford University in England. Dawkins is a Belfer Scholar and studied at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) in Washington D.C. “It’s been important for me to continue on the path of education. It provides a world full of opportunities, and it opens doors for adventures of all kind,” said Dawkins.
