MADISON – James Clemens High School was the only stop in Alabama for Gregg Wieczorek, President of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Wieczorek is engaged in a year-long mission to visit high schools in all 50 states.

Wieczorek observed the procedures and opportunities that James Clemens applies in preparing students for a college path or a workforce career. Dr. Brian Clayton, Principal of James Clemens, Dr. Ed Nichols, Superintendent of Madison City Schools, and James Clemens administrative team led Wieczorek on a tour of classrooms in session.

Wieczorek also visited students in academies for JetsPress, engineering and health/medical, along with the theater department. Student tellers in the new branch for Redstone Federal Credit Union showed the lessons that they are learning about banking, according to MCS Public Relations Manager John Peck.

At a reception in his honor, Wieczorek spoke to school staff and business professionals. Wieczorek’s goal is to stockpile ideas for high schools to share.

Currently, a major difficult in education concerns a shortage of teachers, surprisingly not about pay but, because of lack of respect for the job. Wieczorek said local educators can change this outlook by “building connections” that assist in “telling our story.”

For his tour, Wieczorek has taken leave for one year as principal of Arrowhead Union High School in Hartland, Wis.