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 Dr. Michael Lovett,
Superintendent of Schools
2008-present
Office of the Superintendent
District Center, Room 204
4855 Bloom Avenue
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
(651) 407-7563 - office
(651) 407-7566 - fax
superintendent@isd624.org
Dr. Lovett's Bio
Organizational Chart
February 2012
Mom, I know what I want to do in high school
Earlier this week, a bus pulled up after school in front of White Bear Lake Area High School - South Campus. Out streamed eager fifth graders from one of our elementary schools, excited to meet their high school mentors.
These students are participating in CAMP (Cross Age Mentoring Program), developed and designed by high school students from White Bear Lake Area High School three years ago. The idea came out of a conversation one cold February morning during their 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning meeting.
"We should really design a class project. What do you think we should do to leave our mark on the school?" asked the president.
"How about a bench?"
"We could improve the sign in front of the high school: What do you think?"
"Suppose we develop a mentoring program for younger students. We have heard a lot about the challenges that students face, especially as they go from elementary to middle school. Rather than leaving a bench or sign or something that will wear out, what if we develop a program to mentor students and then let the students after us carry it on?"
That winter and spring students came together and met with staff leaders, and developed the CAMP program which began during the 2009-10 school year. This year, after two years serving one elementary school, more than 70 juniors and seniors joined to be mentors and the program has expanded to two elementary schools.
High school students go to an elementary school site once a week to mentor fifth grade students, giving them the confidence and inspiration to finish their fifth grade year strong, enter middle school with poise, and to dream big for the future.
This week's high school experience was a field trip designed by the high school students. If only the students could see what high school students actually do, the high school students thought. Let's give them a fieldtrip to see the Chemistry Club.
Your picture of Chemistry Club may be a few nerdy students hanging out and talking about chemical formulas. In contrast, the first thing you need to know is that more than 60 students turned out this year to be part of the club. This week on two consecutive nights, members of the Chemistry Club, dressed in capes and costumes, played to a young audience. They performed magic and created explosions and displayed indoor fireworks, astounding the fifth graders, all under the calm guidance of their chemistry teacher, and the generally calm oversight of the high school principal.
It was quite an afternoon. After the demonstrations, the fifth graders made an amazing substance that stretched like rubber, and afterwards had an opportunity to meet the biology teacher and hold live snakes.
As they headed out to the bus or were picked up by their parents, one of the teachers overheard a particularly excited young man.
"Mom, I know what I want to do when I go to high school!"
"What, dear?"
"I want to be in the Chemistry Club. You get to light things on fire and make stuff explode and the teacher lets you do it!"
Dr. Michael Lovett
Superintendent
Superintendent's Message Archives 2011-12
Superintendent's Message Archives 2010-11
Superintendent's Message Archives 2009-10
Superintendent's Message Archives 2008-09
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