Four years play a big role in our society.
It takes four years for high a school student to go from the “newbie” freshman to the ruling senior. The Olympics, made to test an athlete’s true expertise, happens once every four years. The United States presidential election, voting for the face of our country, occurs every four years.
Around Jeffersonville, a big moment happened four years ago: Julie Straight was named the principal at Jeff High School.
Before Straight was tabbed with leading the school, the Jeffersonville native spent over 20 years in the English classroom, coached gymnastics, girls track and field, cross country and cheerleading teams, and sponsored clubs, such as Renaissance and the Class of 1994.
“I’ve always been very involved and I’ve always loved kids and students,” Straight said. “This is where I wanted my professional career to be.”

The beginnings…
“When I first stepped in as interim principal, it was very challenging because we ended up down a few administrators (and I) had to bring in some extra help,” Straight said. “The structures were what worked for someone else, (but) weren’t what would fit my style the best.”
In 2012, there were changes that Straight had to devise, such as organizing structure throughout the building.
“When I was named principal at the end of (the 2012) school year, that was a whirlwind of a summer,” Straight said. “Hiring people, re-establishing some leadership, and the way we would just do business here.”
Once she got the ball rolling as principal, she set her sights on several educational improvements, including honing in on higher test scores.
“If you look at data, all of our main metrics moved up,” Straight said of the improvements since her take over. “ECAs continue to go up, our graduation rate (is) up, our P.R.I.D.E. program has flourished. I think that being a part of the Jeff High family is something that a lot of people have pride in.”

What others are saying
Greater Clark County Schools Superintendent Dr. Andrew Melin, who is Straight’s direct boss, has been impressed with the new principal.
“I believe all of Mrs. Straight’s efforts have resulted in the improvement of many important metrics like graduation rate, post-secondary acceptance, dual credit attainment, etc,” Melin said. “As a result, I believe the image of JHS in our community and region is the best it has ever been.”
Melin also praised Straight’s progress of bettering JHS’ culture.
“Perhaps the most significant change I have seen in JHS since Mrs. Straight was named principal is the establishment of a positive school culture with the students, parents, staff, and community,” Melin said. “She has also been integral in expanding our College and Career Readiness initiative, which includes enhancing our counseling program and our efforts to join the Ford Next Generation Learning Network.”
Assistant principal Tim LaGrange agrees with Melin, saying that Straight became principal at a grueling time, and that he was impressed on how she took on the challenge.
“I think first of all she took over the building in a difficult situation, meaning she was the third principal in a matter of a few days,” LaGrange said. “She calmed the waters (and) she steadied the ship.
“I think one of her most positive attributes is that she bleeds Jeff Red Devils,” LaGrange continued. “She loves Jeff High and all of our kids. That is apparent in all of her decisions. I think that from a personal standpoint, she’s a great boss. She’s the kind of boss that you want to work hard for and that you don’t want to disappoint. On a daily basis, she is a very positive leader who cares about the kids.”.
Despite the kind words, Straight commends the teamwork that her, and her apt-called JHS family, have had throughout the last four years.
“We really work together: students, teachers, and faculty,” Straight said. “I’m very proud of that, and how far we’ve come. It’s hard to believe it’s not really that long.”

The future of JHS
Although principals are considered the ‘top dog’ of the school building, Straight explains that to get the full picture, one must include all of the moving parts. She says the staff and faculty go into making JHS such a great school just as much as she does.
One way to see the improvement would be looking at all of the clubs that have popped up, which are student-run, but also teacher-sponsored.
“We have blown up club-wise: we have our debate team, chess club, key club,” Straight said. “Now we have Optimist club, and so many other things that are growing that we’re taking pride in.”
She explains that all of these various clubs give the school a more community and family feel. She would like to think that this feeling within the school has increased since she has been principal.
In four years time, Straight has said to have brought a young atmosphere to the school, increased the positive culture of the building, positively impacted test scores/graduation rates, and implemented P.R.I.D.E throughout JHS.
So what are Straight’s plan over the next four years? According to the principal, it’s seeing continued improvement. Straight said that she doesn’t plan on going anywhere and is content with being a Jeff Red Devil.
“I’m very happy doing what I do,” Straight said. “I like being in a school where I’m supposed to be, and that’s where I want to be.”

For over 29 years, William “Willie” Thornton has strolled the halls of Jeff High, cleaning up messes along the way. However despite being at JHS for nearly three decades, Thornton hasn’t been seen in months.

Willie is battling health issues, which have kept him from coming in to do the job he loves.

“I like my job and I like the people I work with,” Thornton said. “It’s up to the doctors on if I can return or not. I really want to come back.”

The impact of his absence can be noticed around the janitorial staff, as every one of them who has worked with Thornton mentioned his dedication to the school.

“We miss Willie’s leadership,” said Michelle Grut, a day janitor at JHS. “He has put lots of years into this school, and we truly, truly miss him.”

As for a possible return to work, Thornton (and his doctors) have until March to decide on whether he will be able to return to the janitorial staff.

“He’s been an anchor for our custodial staff for years. He’s a tremendous worker,” said assistant principal Timothy LaGrange. “He’s had some health issues, so losing him was a big blow to us during the day. I personally miss him alot, he had a great sense of humor and I just enjoyed being around him. In his situation if he came back, we want what’s best for Willie.”

story by: Simone Brady

 

Her History:

Hillary Rodham Clinton (née Hillary Diane Rodham), born on Oct. 26, 1947, in Chicago is the Democratic party’s nominee for President of the United States. She obtained a law degree with honors from Yale University in 1973 after graduating from Wellesley College in 1969. During her youth, she worked on Republican campaigns; however, after hearing Martin Luther King, Jr. speak, she changed her affiliation to Democrat in 1968.

Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, won the presidency in 1992 and again in 1996. She served as First Lady from 1993 to 2001, making various diplomatic trips to 82 countries during her tenure. After the end of her husband’s presidency, Clinton decided to run for a Senate seat in the state of New York. She won the election, and went on to her appointed duty from 2001-2009.

Then, in 2009, President Barack Obama appointed her as Secretary of State, which was her position until 2013. She became the most extensively traveled Secretary of State in history, visiting 112 countries and traversing over 950,000 miles.

Clinton ran against Obama for the Democratic nomination in 2008, but conceded in the face of defeat. Despite her loss, she never gave up on her goal to be the first female president. When the opportunity arose again, she took it and ran with it, launching a successful campaign and garnering many supporters.

Along with her fans came critics, of course, including her opponent in the presidential race, Donald Trump, who calls her “Crooked Hillary” due to some of her more public missteps.

Her Ideas:

Clinton plans to reform immigration and make it much easier for immigrants, both legal and illegal, to obtain citizenship. She claims that she will enact this plan within her first 100 days in office, according to her website.

Her belief is that protecting families is one of the most important things one can do when dealing with illegal immigration. Clinton’s agendas of promoting naturalization and attempting to help immigrants obtain safe healthcare are also part of her plan to overhaul America’s immigration system.

Her plans to combat terrorism are well-rounded; she wants to fight radical Islamic terror from many angles. According to her platform, she wishes to take out bases in Syria and Iraq, work with U.S. allies to prevent terrorist attacks, and tighten defenses here at home by preventing gun access to people who are suspected of terrorist ties.

Clinton also supports LGBT rights and racial justice. With the legalization of same-sex marriage last summer, and the rising coverage and awareness of police killings, protecting citizens’ rights has become more crucial than ever.

Clinton appeals to many citizens all across the United States — people of all different races and ethnicities, those across the gender and sexuality spectrum, of varied economic status, and any other factor one can think of. Even those who are not necessarily big fans of her are flocking to her side due to fear of her opponent.

Final Word:

Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton is on a mission to be the very first woman to hold the office of President of the United States. Despite her mistakes and the few faux pas that she may have made, with over 30 years of experience in politics and law, she is truly the most qualified candidate in this race to achieve that goal.

Story by: Caleb Albert

Almost all of the media coverage focuses on the two infamous candidates of the 2016 election: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Because there is so much attention being given to them, other candidates, such as Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, have been forgotten and left out of the race. In fact, many people think not only that only Trump and Hillary are running now, but that only Democratic and Republican candidates are capable of being elected in November.

However, Gary Johnson, a Libertarian and the former governor of New Mexico, is still eligible for the presidency, and has persevered through his campaign, despite the lack of media coverage.

Johnson is the perfect blend of conservative and liberal — he is fiscally conservative, but socially tolerant. This means that while he plans to cut spending in a lot of ways, he is more liberal with social issues, such as marriage rights and religious freedoms. He is also in favor of implementing term limits, which will help create balance of Republican and Democratic representation in our legislation.

Many voters want political experience in a presidential candidate, which is something Johnson has to offer in abundance. Serving as governor of New Mexico, Johnson inherited an incredibly tragic economy: in 1995, he began with a $4.397 billion budget. However, he left with a $7.721 billion budget, and a surplus of roughly $1 billion. He averaged a 7.29-percent budget increase per year.

All of his budgeting was done by vetoing 750 proposed bills, more than any other New Mexico governor combined. Although this seems unfavorable, the increased budget allowed for new schools, roads, highways, and hospitals. He cut taxes 14 times and never raised them. This type of political and business administrative experience is exactly what America needs in a chief executive officer.

Some people might be wondering why the media isn’t covering Johnson as much as the Democratic or Republican nominees.

Andrew Gustafson, a senior at Jeffersonville High School, said, “Clinton and Trump are running campaigns that are focused on scandals and personal attacks, while Johnson is focused on the issues. Scandals make better news stories than a qualified candidate discussing policies.”

Major media outlets understand that controversy makes for more interesting news, which could be why Johnson has been left out of the presidential debates, and why so few people know of his campaign.

Although, according to recent Quinnipiac polls, Gary Johnson is currently polling at 35-percent for voters under the age of 40. Young people are not only the voice of the future, but are the future, and we’re inheriting it quicker than some thought we would.

Don’t let your voice be persuaded by the same two political parties that have run this country for too long. You have other options.