Dr. Eric Davis announced his retirement as an educator in Louisiana on Tuesday. His retirement marks the end of a local career that was meritorious.
By his own admission, Dr. Davis was a problematic student at Carroll High School but survived because many of the legends of Carroll invested in him. They didn’t give up, and the result was the rough-cut, undisciplined boy from the hood who grew up to earn a doctorate, become a gospel preacher, and cap it all off by becoming the state’s best high school principal in 2019.
His is undoubtedly a Cinderella story, proving what can be done with sheer determination and a little help.
As principal of Wossman High School, Dr. Davis restored hope to many students whose social circumstances and poverty sidetracked their ambitions. He made the “The” in Wossman High School have special meaning when its state letter grade changed from a “D” to a “B” in one year.
However, before he had time to work on the failing underlying academics that had troubled the school for two decades, the Monroe School system offered him a $20,000 cash bonus to bring his talents to Carroll High School, which like Wossman, also had a low letter grade and failing academics. It didn’t take much persuasion. Dr. Davis returned to Carroll as the living embodiment of success: the poor, unruly student from the hood who returned home.
Academically, he dealt with a steady influx of first-year students who needed more preparation for high school, lacking foundation skills in reading and math.
A deep-rooted Alumni base was fixed on athletic achievements. It raised thousands of dollars for athletics, but Davis’ educational pursuits were virtually ignored. He wanted to use athletics to springboard academics. When Dr. Davis rolled out the state’s first-ever football team with all honor roll students, the alums were not impressed because the team produced scholars but not winning seasons.
The school board showered the school with new buildings without the certified personnel to teach the programs in the buildings.
Despite all his skill, the Alumni and the school system itself thwarted his efforts to successfully work on the school’s severe academic problems.
While there are bright spots, the achievement data highlighted the massive academic problem the school still faces: English 1-63 percent below basic, English II- 70 percent below basic, Algebra- 82 percent below basic, Geometry- 93 percent below basic, Biology-78 percent below basic, U.S. History-89 percent below basic.
Dr. Davis gave public education in Monroe his best years and efforts.
He used his enormous talents, managerial skills, and enthusiasm to make changes that would count. Many were helped; the success stories of some of his graduates herald the influence of the “gold and blue.”
Even though he’s retiring from Louisiana education, we wouldn’t be surprised if another school district in another state picks him up before the ink on his retirement letter dries.
If that district gives him certified teachers, supportive alums, and the green light to do it his way..that school board will see Dr. Davis again do his magic.
We wish him well and thank him for doing his best.
We haven’t heard the end of his story.
