Sen. Hagan visits Hillside to announce grant program


U.S. Senator Kay Hagan visited Hillside High School on March 15 to announce a new educational grant program.

“It is great that she has chosen Hillside High School, where she will re-launch legislation for school transformation and turnaround. She couldn’t have chosen a better place,” Hillside Principal William Logan said.

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan talks with Jametra Hinton’s Math I students, freshmen Fernando Bautista and Makayla Booker. PHOTO CREDIT: Adriana Penley

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan talks with Jametra Hinton’s Math I students, freshmen Fernando Bautista and Makayla Booker.
(Photo by Adriana Penley)

Sen. Hagan revealed that she is aware that the dropout rate has decreased. She said, “great progress is taking place here.”

Sen. Hagan stated that she is initiating the “School’s Turnaround and Rewards Act (STAR), which will ensure that resources will go to our lowest performing schools.”

Hillside students, including Jada Lillie, Cameron Hall and Braxton Becoats escorted Sen. Hagan to the classrooms that she observed.

Classrooms visited included Sarah Bausell’s AP English III class, Bryan Proffitt’s African American Studies class and Jametra Hinton’s Math I class.

Sen. Hagan interacted with the students. She was saying words of encouragement, such as “keep it up” and “every one of you is our future and will influence our country.”

“It was pretty cool for her to be at Hillside,” Freshman Fernando Bautista said.

Sen. Hagan concluded her visit with a press conference in the school library in which she explained why she is pushing for the STAR Act.