SAILS instructor Mrs. Bleshette Coulter, far left, and Principal Zac Brown, far right, are shown with Howard High School seniors who have completed all SAILS modules as of October 16. Standing left to right, they include: Ashley Webb, Cintaysia Smartt, Shaderrika Ruffin, Kardae Jackson, DeAsia Brewer, Chris Norwood, Brittany Bussey, Robert Cobb, Kishayla Eberhardt, Kardaesia Jackson, Mykelia Hyter, Jaylon Hill, Chris Perez. Seated: Tanashia Clark, Brinique Malone, Teasia Cook, Tatyanna Appleberry, and Janae Dews.
Ms. Coulter assists DeVantae Binford with a math problem in class.
Ms. Coulter with SAILS Field Coordinator Dave Pickering.
The success seen by students enrolled in the SAILS Program (Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support) has been well documented. The number of successful students increases each day as the program sweeps across the state of Tennessee. Earlier this year, reports showed that roughly two-thirds of students in Hamilton County schools have “wiped out their need for developmental math in college,” said Dr. Robert Denn, dean of Academic Success and Support at Chattanooga State.
This fall, Howard High School seniors joined the ranks of those students who will have a real advantage in pursuing their higher education goals thanks to the SAILS Program. In fact, HHS seniors have done an outstanding job. At the halfway point in the semester, more than 37 percent have completed the modules and 50 percent are ahead while only 13 percent are behind. “HHS seniors are well ahead of schedule. Nearly all of these students should finish the SAILS program by Thanksgiving break. Howard leads all Hamilton County Schools in SAILS accomplishment by a healthy margin,” said Dave Pickering, SAILS field coordinator.
The SAILS Program introduces the college developmental math curriculum in the high school senior year. Roughly 70 percent of Tennessee seniors do not meet the ACT Math threshold of 19 and are therefore considered not college-level ready. At Howard, they are working hard to “close the gap.”
“My students work hard and SAILS fills the gap between high school and college math readiness,” said Bleshette Mason-Coulter, HHS alum and the school’s math teacher for the past five years. Ms. Mason-Coulter is focused on student success at the individual level.
Howard principal, Zac Brown, takes success a step further by initiating a host of incentives to make sure the students stay motivated and are rewarded for it. During a recent fall break challenge, students who completed the six SAILS modules before Oct. 3, were treated to a pizza party and one lucky winner, Jyneese Lane, was chosen as the winner of a Chrome Book.
“SAILS students who finish before Fall Semester ends are eligible to enroll in a Early College math class, wherein they will earn college credit in Statistics, Pre-calculus, or other math class... tailored to their intended course of study. At Howard, they can take this additional class in their high school,” explains Pickering. Howard expects some students to complete all math requirements for their intended degree before they graduate high school.
For more information about SAILS, visit http://www.chattanoogastate.edu/high-school/sails or contact Dr. Robert Denn at 423 697-2648.