Episode # 404: Josh Tovar
https://outofthetrenches.podbean.com/e/episode-404-josh-tovar/
Josh Tovar: Principal at Memorial Pathway Academy (6-12) in Garland Independent School District NE of Dallas since 2016 & Host of the #PGPPODCAST Sundays 5 pm
Trench story: he hears stories from my podcast. He has 2 stories. Cell phones will make or break us. 1st yr as an AP was in an affluent area. He walked into an ES school w/ a lunch detention, he moved kids to the stage from the cafeteria. 2 wks later a parent wrote about it in the El Paso times. He tried to not worry about the structure he’s set in place-realigned the culture. It’s part of the admin game that your name will be in the news. 2nd story- he was caught in the crosshairs of the political game. He has been featured in a book recently, telling this story. He was moved to another area of the district- HVAC or transportation. Was 7-8 yrs into AP career. They didn’t tell him why. It felt like a punch in the gut. They set him up for failure. Became the transportation supervisor. He refused to fret in the transportation job. 2 yrs later he was able to be an AP again. He stuck to his guns & did what’s right for kids. Has now been a principal for 10 yrs.
Talk about the recent article about you Principal helps Texas students succeed despite barriers: God closes doors to prevent you from being harmed. He understands the immigrant story having come to the US in the late 70’s to learn English. Educators wanted to put him in K when he was in 2nd grade. He self-medicated in high school and was a D student. His student population is a combo of immigrants and at risk kids. At his previous HS, he felt like he was “raising other ppl’s kids”. At Memorial Pathway, there are 6th graders-21 y.o. 262 kids. Kids from all over the world. 19 grads at winter break. There are a lot of low expectations for MLL kids. They establish routines, rituals, and ongoing support for the adults. Instructional rounds- 2000 in fall semester alone. 22 office referrals in fall semester.
Tell me about your school’s Newcomer ESL High School program, the Newcomer ESL Middle School program: Garland ISD had a newcomer center already established. His school is an academy,students have a “home school” they’re enrolled in. They’ve capped kids in Newcomer classes at 22, currently have less in the classes. They stay w/ him 1 yr. They’re not Title 1. They have 29 teachers. He doesn’t care if the teachers speak Spanish. His school is about creating the culture so everyone feels safe. Culture starts w/ the adults. Everything is based on Sean Keith’s The Fundamental Five. They use SIOP and exit tickets galore. During rounds, guests come in from other districts. Teachers aren’t “beating down the door” to apply yet. Some subs are impressed w/ the structure & quietness of the campus. Adults in some places have had too low of expectations for st’s. His belief is to push st’s because too many graduate w/ low expectations.
Social media involvement; started in 2008. Former HS he would take pictures w/ digi camera. Created DVDs for them. Ask yourself what your calling card is for your business? He went all in promoting- the scholars, he brought in schools from private schools. Kids played the bagpipes & did the Scottish dance. He got colleagues involved promoting on social as well. He won the kids over before winning over the adults. He won them over via social in 2008. He encourages parents where to go to find out things about the school. He’d much rather deal w/ promos on social media then fights.
His podcast: Host of this #PGPPODCAST Sundays 5 pm: He was approached by Unlock the Middle, when that podcast ended he teamed up w/ the Fantastic Four: Sean Hurt, Sheka Houston, Principal Kafele who asked him to be part of the Fantastic Four. He needed to connect w/ other Hispanic educators GANAS. He does interviews w/ educators in many different roles who are dealing w/ all the same things. Reach out to him to be on his show!
How do you do it all as a principal? He’s established patterns/protocolls, routines. His brain wakes him up @ 3:30, he’s at the gym at 4:20. Takes his kids to the bus. It’s a culture to make ppl feel comfortable- so parents are comfortable dropping their kids off @ the school. Be consistent in your patterns. Then ppl will know you’re doing what’s right for kids. WE-BE’s who are the “we’ll be here before you, we’ll be here after you”.
Out of everything: 2 things- kids/adults don’t care how much you know until… Never deviate from your beliefs. Show love, appreciation.
Where can ppl find you? Twitter/X: @MPA_GOJAGUARS @JTSOTLIGHTS
IG: @jtspotlightd FB: Mpa Jaguars LinkedIn YOUTUBE @ JOSH TOVAR
View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KTL5J3MbsbE