By Elly Herrick,Editor-in-Chief
A good assistant principal provides equitable and inclusive environments so that all students and all people feel like they are part of what’s going on.
That’s what Mercilie Toney hopes to do as Indian Trail high school’s new vice principal.
Raised in Miami, Fla.,Toney is now an active member of the Kenosha community and recently earned the assistant principal title. But what does that mean?
“The assistant principal’s role is to work with the administrator and work with the teachers and help run the building,” Toney said. “We also have things that we are responsible to do as far as making sure that our students in the building are performing at expected levels, so we work together to make that happen.”
Toney partakes in a key role called ‘intervention’ which means she works with staff and students to make sure they perform at expected levels. She also works with Access and ACT testing and handles parent and student concerns. “Because I’m new in this role, it seems like I’m having more learning days,” Toney said. “I’m learning the building, learning the system, and learning the job, so it’s definitely learning days.
I’ve had a lot of great days she added. “There are a lot of great people in the building who have been very helpful and very supportive so I feel like I’m in a good place.” Toney said.
Before working at IT, Toney was a Bradford High School dean and dealt with discipline. She also has experience as a special education teacher. One thing that led her to Indian Trail was that her daughter enrolled in the school her freshman year.
“[My daughter and I] love IT and what it stands for and the opportunities that they have made available for our students like the academy as well as for our general population,” Toney said. “I love the school mission and vision which is to propel students into those areas of the future of their careers and possible further education.”
Outside of her decorated office, Toney is involved in the community. While working at Bradford, she was an advisor for the African American Female Initiative (AFFI) and has continued to work with God’s Kitchen.
“I believe in community, so whatever opportunities I have to serve the community I do,” Toney said. “People are important, and we need to do whatever it takes to help and protect people — be it a child, be it a parent, be it someone who doesn’t have a place to live or have food to eat.”
She is an active member in and out of school and many people have noticed it, especially IT Principal Scott Kennow.
“Ms. Toney comes with a wide variety of experience, but the first thing that I noticed about her was her calm and confident approach,” Kennow said. “Her focus is on students and making the world a better place, which we all value here. She was very easy to talk to and I could tell that she was very interested in wanting to help improve our school.” Toney says she has good qualities that make her stand out and make her more qualified for the position.
“What makes me stand out from other people is my attitude,” Toney said. “I believe in doing what’s right so I am passionate about those things and sometimes it’s hard for me to back out from those things, so I will fight until I feel that whatever needs to be done is done. Something that someone taught me that is very important is that whenever it is in your power to do good, you do that.”
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“People will not always remember things that you say to them, but people will always remember how you make them feel.”
— Dr. Maya Angelou
American Poet
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Being a good assistant principal is being human, Toney said. “Understanding that we are here to serve not just ourselves but to serve our students, to serve the teachers, and to be an asset wherever we are,” she said.
While Toney is new in her role, she feels very supported and welcomed by staff and
the student body.
“Relationships are very important to me. It’s not just about working a job, it’s about making connections, building relationships and helping people to grow and get to the next level in life,” Toney said. “You have to be a person that promotes the growth mindset and you have to believe that all students can learn.”
While Toney may have trouble navigating the large and complicated building at first, the staff is confident that she will do many great things for the students. “I’m excited to be here,” Toney said. “I’m getting my purple wardrobe together.”