Academic success cannot solely be attributed to classroom instruction and performance. But rather, it is a combination of effective instructional practices coupled with a positive, enriching school culture that allows both students and faculty to possess a sense of ownership, belonging, pride, and accomplishment within their school and professional communities.

The Walker-Jones Education Campus in Washington, D.C. is part of the D.C. Public School system, and was a school that was severly lacking in a positive climate and culture. WJEC, as it is often referred to as, had numerous deficiencies, including, but not limited to:

• No centralized website or officialized digital medium for communication.
• No morning announcements or consistent informational flow for students
• No "School Spirit" clothing or merchandise for students or staff
• Lackluster logos and publications
• No fundraising activities
• No consistent behavioral guidelines for student participation in incentives

In an effort to give the students, staff, and community of Walker-Jones EC a tangible sense of pride and ownership of their school, the "School of Swag" was created initially consisting of simple, stylish merchandise that was made available to students and staff including, custom ballpoint pens, custom WJEC MS notebooks, WJEC MS "Stuck in the Middle" mugs, The WJEC MS Signature Swag Backpack, baseball caps, and jackets.

After only a week of transformative practices and newly implemented protocols and incentives, the following was received from the Walker-Jones administrative team:

Dear Mr. McLaw,

We wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your dedicated and proactive leadership with your team. It's truly commendable to witness the progress you have made in such a short span of time.

Your ability to create and implement effective plans for the Middle School Team has not gone unnoticed. The enthusiasm and commitment you have shown in developing the team are inspiring. We are genuinely excited to see your leadership in action and observe the positive impact it will have on the team's performance.

Thank you once again for your unwavering dedication and for exemplifying true leadership qualities. Your efforts are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to witnessing continued success under your guidance.

Warm regards,

The Admin Team