Dunbar School: Progress in Action

The Voice of the District | Featuring Dr. Sarah Jane Henry, Principal of Dunbar School

In this episode of The Voice of the District, we sit down with Dr. Sarah Jane Henry, principal of Dunbar School, to talk about her journey in education, her passion for student success, and the work happening each day inside the Dunbar community.

Dr. Henry shares her vision for creating a positive and supportive school culture where students, staff, and families feel connected, valued, and empowered to grow. The conversation highlights the importance of strong relationships, consistent student experiences, and the exciting progress taking place at Dunbar School.

Join us as we spotlight the leadership, care, and commitment helping shape the future of Bridgeport Public Schools one student at a time.

Disclaimer

Before we begin, The Voice of the District serves as an open dialogue platform to engage members of the Bridgeport Public Schools community. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Bridgeport Public Schools or the Board of Education.

Our goal is to keep our community informed through thoughtful and transparent conversations.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:01

Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome back to the Voice of the District. I'm Carly Rocha Reyes, and today I'm very excited to be joined by Dr. Sarah Jane Henry, the principal of Dunbar School. Dr. Henry is a dedicated leader whose commitment to students, staff, and families is evident in the work happening at Dunbar each day. And we're really grateful to have her here with us to share her journey and also the impact she's making in our district. And I feel like I'm lucky enough to call you a friend as well as it's not. Absolutely. It's wonderful to be here. Thank you for having me. Of course, absolutely. Glad that you're here. And so let's just start off a little bit, Dr. Henry. If you can just tell us a little more about you, your journey into education, and what brought you here to Bridgeport Public Schools.

SPEAKER_01 0:44

Okay. Well, I come from a family of educators, and so I got into education in 2007. I became an art teacher at Edison, Columbus, and Garfield, my first year. So I split between the three schools. And then the following year I opened the new Barnum building and spent 12 years there teaching art, which was an incredible experience. I left for a couple of years to go get some administrative experience in Norwalk, and then I came back to Bridgeport as the director of performing and visual arts, which I was part of for four years, which was a wonderful experience. And then this year is my first year at Dunbar as the principal, and I'm loving every second of it.

SPEAKER_02 1:25

Amazing, thank you. And so this is your how many years in Bridgeport, you said?

SPEAKER_01 1:29

This is year 19 in education. In education. Yep. So amazing. I missed two where I went to Norwalk, but I'm back.

SPEAKER_02 1:35

Good. Well, we're we're so happy that you're back.

SPEAKER_01 1:37

And where are you from originally? I was born and raised in South Africa. I moved here just after my 18th birthday. My dad was a college professor, and we moved to Virginia, which is where I met my husband, who's also in the district. He is the principal over at Arrow. Um, and he's from up here, so I followed him up here, and I've been in Connecticut since 2004.

SPEAKER_02 1:57

Amazing, thank you. And have you been back to South Africa?

SPEAKER_01 2:01

We have. We have very luckily been a couple times in the last few years. My family's still there. My parents are now retired there and they're aging, so we try to get back and see them as much as possible.

SPEAKER_02 2:12

That's amazing. Thank you for sharing that. Um, and so for those who may not be familiar with Dunbar School, can you tell us a little bit about your school community, the progress you've seen, and then maybe some, you know, your vision, your goal moving forward?

SPEAKER_01 2:27

Sure. Dunbar is a hidden gem on the east end of Bridgeport. We are a small little neighborhood school. We have 380 students at the moment. Our building from the outside does not at all show the warmth and love inside the school. We have the most fantastic students, teachers, parents, and community support. Since I started there in July, I have felt nothing but welcomed. The families that show up in the morning are kind and friendly. They pop in and say hello. The staff have been absolutely incredible. I have got literally the dream team of teachers. My assistant principal Diana Lippmann is the perfect fit for our school. My security guard and clerical are just incredible people who love and support our children. And then obviously the cherry on top are the kids. We have pre-K3 through eighth grade, so three-year-olds through 15-year-olds in my building, and they are a joy to be around each and every day.

SPEAKER_02 3:33

That's amazing. And I I I have visited Dunbar a few times this school year, and what you're saying is exactly what I saw and felt when I went there. Oh, I'm so glad to hear that. It it it really is. I mean, you know, at first when you park, it it can look a little intimidating from the outside. Yeah, it's not the most appealing architecture. Right. But that is like it it is no um, it it does not give an accurate description of what you what you're we feel when you walk inside. It's great. Everyone was just so friendly from the moment you walked into the to the main office. Good. Um the students in the hallway were you know greeting us as we walked in, and I mean I I felt that.

SPEAKER_01 4:14

Oh, I'm so pleased to hear that. You know, school should be warm, school should be inviting, sh school should be a happy place. And that's really what I'm trying to focus on at Dunbar is making it a place where people want to be. And so I I it's coming together.

SPEAKER_02 4:28

Absolutely. Well, I wanted to stay, so I think I think it whatever you're doing, it's working. Oh, thank you. Um, and so I mean, this is kind of a perfect segue into talking about relationships being at the heart of a successful school. And I think I think we talk about this a lot, and I think that's something that here in Bridgeport Public Schools, it's a it's a focus of ours to create climates and cultures where students not only feel like they belong, right, but feel like they're valued and loved and appreciated and supported every day. And so what are you doing over there that that we see it's working? So, what are some things that you're doing over there that help build those strong relationships and supportive climate and culture?

SPEAKER_01 5:10

I guess I try to operate the school the way I would want it as a parent. So if my children were sitting in a classroom in the school, would I be okay with what's going on? And so that's my guiding principle in working in our school. I've yet to meet a parent who isn't trying their best. And so every day they trust us, and it's a huge trust to send your child to somewhere where you don't know the people. I'm you, and they trust us every day with their kids. And so they're my children too. All 380 of them are my children, also. And so uh I know my teachers feel the same way because they love and nurture, and so we do take care of a lot of Maslow before bloom. You know, we really want kids to feel welcomed and loved in order to be ready to learn. And so, whether it's a family needing uh clothes and food or a family who's juggling a schedule of working parents, we try to work with everyone and meet them where they are because everybody comes to school with different needs. Right. And if we can take care of their basic needs, then the kids can thrive and learn and be really ready to excel.

SPEAKER_02 6:21

I love that. I love that you put on your parent hat in order to be a better administrator. Oh yeah, right.

SPEAKER_01 6:27

380 of my own children and then two at home.

SPEAKER_02 6:31

That's amazing. And so, you know, I was gonna ask you about how you want students to feel uh when you walk when they walk in, but it's I mean, you loved it.

SPEAKER_01 6:39

Just loved. Um, you know, our kids come to school and for some of them things are difficult at home. For some of them, you know, it's a it's a struggle in the morning to get out of bed because they're up late or whatever scenario. I just want them to feel welcomed every single day. And it's part of my goal for next year. We really need to to crack down on our chronic absenteeism. Our numbers right now, our data is not great. And so I'm trying to make Dunbar a fun place where kids want to be. And you know, so I'm working on building programs for kids. So, for example, um, we're currently building an outdoor garden classroom, which has been a lot of fun, and the kids have been getting their hands dirty, they're digging holes and planting trees, we've got all kinds of fruits and vegetables that got planted last week, and the kids are all in on helping. And all everything we grow will go back into the community. We'll just set up a plant stand or you know, a food stand in the front and let families come and take whatever they need. We're trying to, you know, just make school more engaging. This year, our debate team made it further than they ever have, which we're so proud of. We had two fifth graders on the team, um, which we usually don't go that young, apparently. And we landed up winning some awards this year, which we're really grateful for. Um it's like people are starting to notice how much potential the kids at Dunbar have, uh, which is amazing because these kids can do anything.

SPEAKER_02 8:14

Absolutely. That's wonderful. And so you're talking, you've talked about your outdoor garden. Um, are there any other exciting things that are currently happening at Dunbar?

SPEAKER_01 8:24

Well, our academic data is trending in the right direction, and that is what I'm really excited about. We had a meeting, a data meeting this morning, um, going through some of our spring progress monitoring data, and we're starting to see green. And for those of you not in education, when when a child tracks in the green, they're where they need to be. And so that is so encouraging because I say to all my students, and I especially to my eighth graders this year, that when they leave Dunbar, I want them to have options. Right. So whether they choose a trade school or they choose the neighborhood high school or they choose to go on to a magnet or a private school, wherever they end up, I just want to set them up to have options so that they can really choose their destiny. And then the other thing, there's one really exciting thing we're waiting for. Um, next month we are starting construction on our new playground. Wow. So our little pre-K3 through first graders are getting a brand new state-of-the-legground, which we desperately need. Um, and so when I first came to the school, I showed everybody possible the condition of our playground, and facilities really came through. So in June, we're getting a new playground. That's incredible. Which is And they deserve that. They sound so much. Right. So much. Um I'm working with a local Boy Scout. He is going to do his Eagle Scout project and build us a g a gaga pit.

SPEAKER_02 9:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 9:54

So uh so we can have something fun at Recess for the kids. Um so yeah, we're we're just we're building.

unknown 10:01

Right.

SPEAKER_01 10:01

Um this year we did have our kindergarten teacher won one of the Teacher of the Year Awards from the Bridgeport Public Education Fund. Um we have two third grade teachers being honored by the CEA union this this June. Um it's as if the engine and the spark has been lit. And the potential in Dunbar is is there and we're ready to take off.

SPEAKER_02 10:26

That's amazing. I mean, I can see the excitement on your face. I love it. Yes, I can see it.

SPEAKER_01 10:31

I can tell. I I've I've got a team of people, like I said, Diana Lippmann, my assistant principal, is the best thought partner. She just helps because sometimes I have crazy ideas, and um she's like, okay, let's do it. And she she just dumped jumps in the D-pin with me. Um but I'll I'll my kids they're they're gonna have opportunities.

SPEAKER_02 10:52

That's amazing. I was having a conversation with one of our other community partners, and we had that that this conversation about giving students every possible opportunity, and we talked about like I said, you know, I'm in the the business of opening doors, and we open we try to open as many doors for our students. Options.

SPEAKER_01 11:11

Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 11:12

Right, and so clearly you're in the business of opening doors.

SPEAKER_01 11:15

I'm trying. I'm trying, and you know, the kids in the community and the teachers have all responded. Um, I came in and you know, my background was in the arts, and they just welcomed me and and they jumped on board with my crazy ideas, and they're they show up on a Wednesday, we had parents show up on a Wednesday afternoon to help us build all our raised garden beds. One dad ran home and got tools to help us be more efficient and effective. And so, yeah, I I'm so lucky to have this position. That's amazing. Okay, Dr.

SPEAKER_02 11:46

Hein, last question to wrap this up. So we are trying to build our listeners, right? And we're hopeful that there are some Dunbar students and families that one might stumble across this and might listen. So anything you want to say directly to your Dunbar family, or maybe staff might.

SPEAKER_01 12:04

That I am incredibly grateful and honored to have the privilege to work with all of them. And we're building our social media campaign, so I will be sharing this far and wide to get as many people involved. But yeah, it is a privilege to work at Dunbar.

SPEAKER_02 12:18

Thank you. Dr. Honey, thank you so much for sharing your journey and for the leadership and care you bring to the Dunbar school community every single day. And to our students and our families and staff, thank you for your continued partnership and for all you do to support student success. And this has been the voice of the district, and thank you for listening.

SPEAKER_01 12:36

Thank you for having me. Dunbar is coming back stronger than ever. We are not closing, and we are going to be one of the best schools in this district.

SPEAKER_02 12:44

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 12:46

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