On October 5 in the Media Center, Principal Jeff Olivero shared his thoughts on how to make University City High School an extraordinary place of learning by presenting his new ideas to the PTSA.

According to Olivero, his inspiration for this year’s plan to improve UC High is a book called The Fred Factor. According to the book’s website, The Fred Factor is the story of a mailman named Fred who always took extra steps to satisfy his customers. For example, the first day the narrator moved into his new house, Fred greeted him with a warm welcoming, gave him tips about the neighborhood, and came up with a plan for handling the man’s mail the days he was out of town (fredfactor.com). “[The Fred Factor] gave real life examples of individuals who take their jobs but make them extraordinary,” Olivero said, “We have quite a few extra ordinary educators, and others who come at 7:24 and leave at 2:12.”

To become an extraordinary school, Olivero believes there must be a mutual respect between teachers and students. “[UC High] has to become a place where students love their teachers and teachers love their kids.” Olivero explained. “I think we have pockets of that, but we are not that way across the board.”

English Teacher Andrea McCullough believes she has always tried to give students the best education she can provide. “I always go above and beyond what is required and necessary to give my students the best educational experience,” McCullough explained. “I have been Fred as long as I have been teaching. Mr. Olivero’s ideas may be new to some, but not me.”

Olivero believes teachers should try to be a part of their students’ extracurricular lives to be extraordinary. “Teachers should go to multiple outside school events during the year,” said Olivero. “You should see all of them out there.”

He additionally briefed the PTSA about the long-term goals he created “The goals for the students haven’t changed course from two years ago,” said Olivero. “The goals are still to work really hard and for students to surround themselves with the right group of people.”