9/16/13
ATTITUDE: Principal Michael Roe brings school pride and community back to Poly.
By John Burke, News Editor
Dr. Roe starts his first year not with ambitious ideas for new programs, but for ambitious standards for students. “I’m not a big believer in programs, I’m a believer in kids,” Roe said. He believes that students should be the ones to bring brilliance to their school. “I feel I’m here to do whatever I can to accelerate what the students believe.”
Roe appears rigorously determined to support students as much as possible, to the point of not even wanting an office. “This is the first year I’ve ever had an office. My job is to be out there supporting you guys, and supporting the teachers.”
One of his foremost ideas for student involvement is a principal’s cabinet. “I’m creating a principal’s cabinet, which will solely be students who report directly to me about the things they want to see preserved here at Poly, the things they want to see changed.” Roe hopes that this will promote ideas that students want advanced, rather than just ideas that an administrator thinks would be best.
Going hand-and-hand with the idea of the principal’s cabinet is a Poly Pride Conference on October 4. “If we had to attach an adjective to the P, the R, the I, the D and the E from a student perspective, what would that look like?” Roe inquired. The conference will be completely student run, with different types and groups of students. “It unifies us,” Roe said when describing the effects he believes this conference will have.
Social media is another tool Roe utilizes to connect with students. “40 percent of the traffic that we get coming to Poly via the internet comes through phones,” Roe reported. Students can follow Roe on his Instagram and twitter pages, and visit his Facebook page. When asked about posting pictures of students to his Instagram, Roe responded, “I love the ability to be able to do that, celebrate you guys.”
Roe also increases Poly’s web traffic with a new set of blogs. Covering a wide range of topics, from different classes to issues on campus, the blogs are a way for Roe to gain feedback directly from students.
Along with revitalizing the students, Roe hopes to revitalize the campus. He has already brought in architects and spoke of numerous ideas for the campus. Hanging on his wall are pictures of an improved and beautified Poly campus, with features such as collegiate style banners hanging off the gym.
Roe realizes the important connection Poly has to the Riverside community, and believes that it is ready for change. “You’ve got the best teachers, hands down. You’ve got the best kids, and you’ve got a supportive community, but I think over the years that community has sort of sat back a little bit,” Roe said. Unfortunately, King’s community rose in Poly’s place. But Roe plans to change that. “The day and age of Poly looking to King to be the standard, those days are done.”
Bound and determined to revitalize Poly, there are two things Roe wants students to know. “I love you, and you can trust me. All that I ever ask is that you give me your best, and you never lie to me.”