Dr. Gordon Grant, Principal, Randolph Learning Center.

Staff reports

Dr. Gordon Grant is the principal of Asheville City School’s Randolph Learning Center. He is a kind, caring, creative, amiable and loving husband, father, and leader.

Perhaps Dr. Grant’s broad perspective of things can be traced back to his childhood. He was known as an international kid whose father was a State Department diplomat. Although he was born in New Haven, Connecticut, he was fortunate to have been exposed to other cultures. He has lived in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and India.

Payson Kennedy, the head of Nantahala Outdoor Center, where Dr. Grant attended School, was a man who was highly respected by Dr. Grant. It was there that he learned that no one can accomplish anything alone. Accomplishment is a community concept, for there are people who are willing to push you along.

Rev. O. T. Tomes, former minister of New Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Asheville, was also a man who had an impact on Dr. Grant’s life. He met Rev. Tomes when he attended Building Bridges at its beginning. The sessions were held at New Mt. Olive.

Working along with others, he is proud of helping to change the community’s perception of RLC, a school that the community has not always view as an exceptional institution. The students at RLC should not be underestimated. 90 percent of the eighth grade students scored at grade level on the North Carolina end-of-grade test in math. Dr. Grant knows that all students can learn if they are given the right conditions for learning. The students there are intelligent but sometimes have not worked up to their potential.
Dr. Grant is a husband and father. He has been married to Susan for twenty-five years, and they have two lovely daughters,

Rachael and Glenna. Rachael is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Glenna attends the State University of New York, Purchase College, an acting conservatory.

Dr. Grant will lead the NC Differentiated Diploma Plan, a new plan for the students at RLC. The school’s mission is to be a ‘remediating’ academic and behavioral institution.

Historically, students who succeed at RLC do not succeed when they must return to classes at Asheville High School in their 10th grade year, due to:

a.    Many of these students are over-aged and under credited for their grade.
b.    Academic challenges in attaining 28 credits required for graduation.
c.    Complicating life factors that contribute to a greater risk of dropping out before graduation when they see that they do not have the credits in school, nor the job skills out of it, to secure a plan for their future careers.

The RLC study group proposes a program where students spend their 9th and 10th grade years primarily at RLC in academic courses required by the NC High School Graduation standards, with preparation for moving into community college level courses in 11th grade. In the 11th grade, students attend AB tech block schedules that give the students their full certification in a job-ready credential in one of four initial areas. The 12th grade year would be spent accruing necessary graduating credits, a job internship, and a senior graduation project that would also address ENG IV requirements. Students may graduate in December

2010 of their fourth year (2010-2011) if they acquire sufficient credits. This program:
•    Recognizes each student as having met NC High School Graduation requirement of 21 credits,
•    Has the same academic base of courses as all AHS students,
•    Gives each student a job ready certification for employment upon graduation, and
•    Trains the student in how to utilize the AB Tech Community College curriculum for life long training that can lead to further job ready certifications and a two or even four year degree.

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