NORTH COFFEE Elementary can’t help but stand out. Principal Adam Clark said that excellence comes from a focus on relationships.
“I try to [connect] with all the kids in the school,” Clark said. “We’ve got 340 students at North Coffee, and I know [all] their names.”
That focus on relationships doesn’t end with the kids. Clark and Vice Principal Bobbi Gilley make a point to see parents every day when they unload cars. Clark said it makes them more approachable and not someone to be afraid of.
“Parents feel like they’re supported and that they have a voice. And so because they have that voice, they trust us. They trust that we’ll do what’s best for their kids,” Clark said. “I think that’s a huge piece to it.”
North Coffee’s excellence doesn’t stop with its administrators, either. Manchester’s Finest Teacher, Jennifer Swack, and 2022 Coffee County Teacher of the Year, Cindy Gilliam, work at the elementary school. Swack has worked at the school for over 10 years, and Gilliam for nearly 30. They are among many “lifers” at North Coffee. In fact, many of the teachers went to the school as kids or had family who were staff, and many students had family in the school as well. Clark said that the generational aspect is one of the unique things about North Coffee Elementary.
“There are generations of families that attend North Coffee. So we’ve got kids whose mom, dad, and grandparents all attended North Coffee,” Clark said. “You have this huge community of people that just love North Coffee. It means a lot to them. It was home to them when they were kids, and it is now for their grandkids and children as well.”
There is a reason people keep coming back. Gilley said the teachers make sure the school does its best for the students, and Clark does a good job of making sure they feel listened to.
“They come to work every day, they want to be here, and they want to do what’s right for kids,” Gilley said. “We trust our teachers, we support them, and I feel that because they feel that support, we ultimately don’t lose a lot of teachers.”
Gilley said the teachers know Clark will have their back, and that connection helps them work harder. The teachers also make an effort to get to know their students by eating with them in the cafeteria during the first month of school and even making home visits to meet students and families ahead of the school year. Clark said it may be an oddity, but it helps teachers connect with their kids on a personal level.
“We want to be the best at everything we do,” Clark said. “Not because we want to push everybody else down or be cocky about it, but we just feel like the kids of North Coffee, and ultimately the kids of Coffee County, deserve the best.” GN
