The brand new Heights Academy at Grandview Heights Middle School is already making a big impact on both students and teachers in just it’s first year. The Heights Academy gives high-performing or proficient students the opportunity to learn in a separate environment within the traditional school setting.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HEIGHTS ACADEMY INNOVATIVE STRATEGY FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

One of the Heights Academy’s star teachers is Jamie Mack. This is her second year at GHMS. Mrs. Mack grew up in Memphis and graduated from Central High School. She is a shining example of someone working hard to improve the lives of students in her hometown.

We recently visited Mrs. Mack's classroom to discuss the successes she is seeing in the Heights Academy. 

How long have you been teaching?

This is my 6th year teaching.

What inspired you to become a teacher?

I originally wanted to be a pharmacist, but when I started working at an after school care in college, I became attached to the students. While working with them, I knew I wanted to do something in education.

My second grade teacher Mrs. Lindsey was also an inspiration. She was very caring, very kind and wanted us to work hard. Even in the second grade she wanted us to be above the level we were on.

What has been your experience teaching at the Heights Academy?

The Heights Academy has been awesome! It is great to be able to teach and see the students engaged. They want to learn and do more. I just enjoy teaching when the students love what we are doing. That just makes it even more fun for me.

How is being in the Heights Academy helping the students succeed?

It is putting them in a different culture. The students tell us that there are no distractions from other students, whose main goal is not to do the work. Some students I’ve talked to think school is a party. They came to play. The Heights Academy gives students the opportunity to take away as many distractions as possible.

It also puts together students on the same learning level. That allows us to take them to a higher level on daily basis.

What have been the most rewarding classroom moments thus far in your career?

It is when students tell me that they used to hate science, but now they love it! I used to teach social studies and all my students would be like, "social studies is so boring!" So then when I started teaching my students would then say "Mrs. Mack, you made social studies fun" or "I love social studies now!" That is just so rewarding for me.

When your students think back to their time in your classroom what do you hope they remember?

I hope that the students will remember that Mrs. Mack would never let them give up and that I was hard on them because I want them to be successful.