Maeson Jefferson was nervous about his first day as a sixth grader at R. Frank Nims Middle School.
But as soon as he stepped onto the campus, he was greeted by at least three administrators who made sure he knew where he was going and that he felt welcomed.
"I come from Bond Elementary. I am a little nervous about middle school, but I'm excited too," Maeson said.
For the first time in its 66-year history, the middle school welcomed students as a B school, just three points shy of an A, according to the state's grading matrix.
And across the Leon County Schools District, about 30,000 students, and parents and teachers alike are experiencing first day jitters, excitement for the new year, and joyous reunions with friends and teachers.
LCS spokesperson Chris Petley told the Tallahassee Democrat there were no glitches or mishaps for the first day Monday.
Teachers and administrators at Nims focused on establishing expectations for students with uniforms, being in class on time and following instructions.
Nims' students all wore blue, white or yellow polos tucked into khaki bottoms, but still each looked unique. Each student with fresh new hairstyles, new backpacks and colorful socks to set themselves apart and commemorate the return to school.
When asked if he heard of Nims' new grade, Maeson said, "Yes, that's what I am most excited about, and making new friends."
Principal Benny Bolden leads Nims' transformation
Principal Benny Bolden started at the school in 2019 and transformed the Title I middle school in the heart of Tallahassee's south side by implementing the school uniform policy and introducing career and technical programs and arts programs.
Aside from its new B grade, the school has more to look forward to this year. Currently under construction is a new gym, Esports lab and performing arts center to enhance electives in the future.
Nims is a pre-law magnet school, meaning it provides additional support and resources for students who wish to pursue careers in judicial and political fields. It is the first and only school with such a magnet distinction in the district.
Nims isn't the only south side school achieving academic success. Bond and Pineview elementary schools, which funnel rising sixth graders like Maeson to Nims, are making strides as well.
"Our feeder schools are doing great as well at Pineview and Bond, so the excellence is just spreading everywhere in Leon County Schools," Bolden said.
Pineview made an enormous jump from a C to an A in just one year, and Bond received another B grade, just 3 points away from an A.
"This is not an easy feat, and if it could be done it would've been done already within that 66-year history," Bolden said. "There's scripture that says many are called but few are chosen, and we were just that chosen generation to get it done."
This is the way: Teachers supporting teachers at Nims
Janele Bullard, the school's assistant principal of curriculum, said the greatest conduit of the school's culture of success was creating a space where teachers could collaborate and partner with administrators to make schoolwide decisions.
"We listened to our teachers, but we also used our discretion as administrators (and) we worked together as a team," Bullard said. "It's a family here, and when you're with your family you are most comfortable and you're going to do your best."
If one teacher sees their teaching method isn't supporting a student, another will say "I'll take them," Bullard said.
"That goes to show, these teachers care about the students," Bolden said. "If a school is going to be successful, we need to understand the teacher's perspective."
Craig Schroeder has been teaching at Nims for five years and has grown to love the students and the school. So much so, he made a permanent decision to commemorate the school's B grade.
"I told the kids if they kept their grades up during the year, at the end of the school year I would get a silly tattoo," Schroeder said. They held him to his end of the bargain.
Outside his classroom Monday, students stopped by to find out what tattoo he got to honor their diligence and dedication.
The English teacher has a bumblebee in Trojan armor tattooed on his arm, to represent the "Trojans" earning their first ever "B."
Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached atABrown1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter/X:@AlaijahBrown3.
