I would like to express my appreciation and respect for Mr. Marv Marino, the principal at Leesburg Elementary School. I, too, along with the other parents who registered our children at Leesburg this week, were told that Mr. Marino would not be at the school at the start of the year due to a "personnel" issue that was being examined.
What a tremendous loss our children will have to bear if Mr. Marino is not at Leesburg this year. This is a man who has turned this school upside down and put it back on track academically. On the Warsaw Community School's Web site, you can research the individual elementary schools' ISTEP scores from the past years. It is a fact that Leesburg has dramatically improved in the last three years since Mr. Marino has been at the helm at Leesburg. We went from having only 38.8 percent of students passing both the ISTEP+ English/Language Arts and Math Tests in 2001-2002 to 77.4 percent passing this year! In addition to the continued improvement in ISTEP scores the past few years, this year Leesburg was named an Indiana Title 1 Distinguished School.
Leesburg was one of only two schools in the entire state of Indiana that received this recognition! Not only did the school win a state award, but also was recognized nationally when Dr. Suellen Reed, Indiana State Superintendent of Public Instruction nominated Leesburg for the National School Change Award. This is the second year in a row that Leesburg has been nominated for this award. This award is presented to schools that rise from being underperforming to exemplary. Dr. Reed wrote, "Leesburg Elementary School has made significant progress in the last three years on the ISTEP." Notice the time frame she states: the last three years. Is it a coincidence that the past three years is the same time that we have had Mr. Marino as our principal?
This July, Leesburg was recognized as a finalist at the National Principals' Leadership Institute in New York City. Mr. Marino has not been selfish with the academic success of Leesburg. In fact, he has welcomed more than 20 different schools and multiple school corporations to Leesburg to visit our programs and learn from him and our teachers. Mr. Marino is not only making a difference for the students at Leesburg, but also statewide for thousands of students whose teachers have gleamed from the programs and vision of Mr. Marino and the staff at Leesburg!
However you want to cut the pie, Leesburg was at the bottom of the scale when it came to Warsaw Community elementary schools four years ago. Now the school has regained its focus and the staff is working toward a common vision that all students can learn.
The school board must look at the facts, not just someone or a small group's opinion of a principal. If we, as adults, could get our bosses fired the next time we didn't agree with them, there would be no bosses left. Success as a leader comes at a price. It is not for the faint of heart. You will not please everyone, but the proof is in the pudding. The difference that a quality leader can make, especially as an educator, is immeasurable in the life of a child. I am grateful that my two boys have been able to learn under the direction of Mr. Marino at Leesburg, and I pray that this situation is resolved quickly so Mr. Marino can continue the success story of Leesburg Elementary!
Bonnie Phillips
Leesburg, via e-mail
Editor's Note: This letter was edited to conform more closely to the 500-word limit stated in our "Letters Policy."
