It’s a typical Friday morning at Marion County Middle School as principal Amanda Farmer sits at her desk calling teachers and instructing them to send students to her office one at a time.
Minutes later, a student is seated directly across from Farmer who begins a very direct line of questioning.
It may seem like a situation most students would hope to avoid, but actually it’s Farmer’s weekly Positive Office Visits where she briefly meets with students individually; during the one-on-one interactions, Farmer gets to know students on a more personal level while also getting a student’s insight on the school’s culture. Moreover, the Positive Office Visits are a way to change how students feel about being called to her office.
“I’m trying to break the stigma of being sent to the principal’s office,” Farmer said. The Positive Office Visits began last year as a way to get to know more students and create more positive interactions.
Her first question when the student arrives: How’s the school year going?
From there, she asks about the student’s favorite teacher, what they like to do outside of school, and career aspirations before moving on to what she calls “off the wall” questions: What’s your favorite lunch and what’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
In between questions, Farmer and the student have short, often lighthearted, discussions that also give her a better understanding of the students and staff. For example, after asking students about their favorite teacher, she followed up by asking what makes that person a good teacher.
When she met with 8th grader Tuff Crask, the conversation turned toward his hobbies outside of school -- working on cars -- and his career aspirations as a mechanic. It gave Farmer a chance to point out that the Marion County Area Technology Center has an automotive pathway that he might want to consider when he becomes a high school student.
In fact, she was quick to remind each of the 8th graders she met with that soon they’d be at the high school and not long after nearing graduation.
“You’re over halfway through school and graduation will be here soon,” she told one student.
She also took a quick look at the students’ grades and encouraged them to make sure they were keeping track of assignments.
When she met with Crask, she mentioned that if he stayed focused on his classwork he could end up on the honor roll.
“I’d love to be on that,” he said.
Before the students leave her office, Farmer hands them a $5 Reward Bucks slip they can use at the school’s Shield Shop.
Typically, Farmer plans on meeting with nine students -- three from each grade -- and if all goes as planned, she will have had a Positive Office Visit with every student in the school by the end of the year.
Farmer also makes sure parents are aware of the Positive Office Visits. After she’s met with students, Farmer sends a text message using the district’s mass messaging system to parents to tell them that the Positive Office Visit occurred and encouraging them to talk to their child about it.
Farmer’s final question during each visit is if they have any complaints they’d like to share. She said that students aren’t afraid to air their grievances, although on a recent Friday, the first few students she met with that day didn’t have any.
When she asked Crask if he had any complaints, his response was simple: “No, it’s Friday.”