On Monday, October 28, ERHS students and parents received the ERHS October Parent Newsletter via email. In the newsletter, one piece of news shocked the community: “Dr. Walker, our Science & Technology Program Coordinator, retired effective October 1.” To support students during this transition, Dr. Barnes added that the STEM Office has introduced the PGCPS STEM supervisor Dr. Felicia Martin, who “visits the building several days a week to provide support to our Science and Technology students and parents and staff.” The ERHS administration is currently in the process of filling the vacancy, and will “keep the community updated” on the situation.
ERHS S/T students had a lot to say after Dr. Walker’s departure. Sophomore Queenie Zhou wishes he had said goodbye to the student body, and sympathized with the juniors and seniors because “these are critical years for them,” the years where juniors’ grades and classes matter most and seniors are preparing to graduate in the spring. Senior Cecilia Argueta was shocked to find out the news, saying she didn’t know Dr. Walker had retired. For her, his departure hasn’t affected her directly, stating that his departure “has not impacted [her] in terms of graduation requirements or unresolved issues,” but she does have advice for underclassmen who will deal with the consequences of his departure. The S/T freshmen are given a checklist at the start of the school year, so Argueta advises them to “hang on to it, and make sure that [their] schedule is based on the checklist.”
The S/T staff is just as shocked as their S/T students about Dr. Walker’s retirement. Mr. Sean Brady, who teaches multiple S/T subjects—Research Practicum, Biology, Microbiology, and Anatomy/Physiology—recalled that “there wasn’t much discussion leading up to it.” The ERHS staff were informed about Dr. Walker’s retirement two weeks before October 1, which realistically wouldn’t be enough time for administration “to put a plan in place,” he reasons. But, when the new S/T coordinator arrives and has a plan for current and future S/T students, Mr. Brady hopes that they are “highly organized, involved with the students, and acts as a facilitator between the students, parents, and administration.”
Dr. Walker’s departure has left the Roosevelt community concerned about the future of the Science and Technology program, a key component of the school’s reputation. While the presence of an interim coordinator offers reassurance, this transition continues to leave concerns about maintaining order in a highly respected program. Despite the turmoil, there’s hope that a new coordinator will soon take their position. Students and staff eagerly await a new coordinator who will uphold the program’s standards and continue to effectively lead as well as support students throughout their high school years.
