Ten to Teen: A System of Support

By Tanika Davis Principal, November/December 2014 When Tetra Jackson took over of principal at Dr. Rayner Browne Elementary/ Middle School, she knew her work would be challenging. The school is in a high-poverty area of East Baltimore, where vacant houses line the streets and 99.7 percent of students qualify for free- and reduced-price lunch. Teacher and administrative turnover over the years contributed to instability, and in 2010, the school ranked 710th out of 848 elementary schools in the state, according to the Maryland State Department of Education.