Chris Belcher’s article, “Recruiting Our ‘Missing’ Students” (November 2017), provided inspiration as he detailed his efforts to increase diversity in his high school’s Advanced Placement classes.

I’ve started a similar initiative at my high school. Having the conversation with faculty and introducing THE IDEA OF DIVERSIFYING OUR AP AND HONORS CLASSES has been quite a challenge, yet it is something I feel passionately about and will continue to pursue.

I have contacted the author for further information that will help guide my effort. As I’m sure he experienced firsthand, changing mindsets is a challenging process, but it’s a necessary part of the journey. TRACY SMITH
PRINCIPAL,
SLEEPY HOLLOW HIGH SCHOOL,
SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y.


Religious Schools
I surely found Richard Kahlenberg’s My View column, “Undercutting Our Democracy Through Vouchers” (January 2018), thoughtful and insightful.

However, I must disagree with him when he refers to religious schools as having a primary purpose of teaching religious faith, not faith in democracy. My many years of experience in public school leadership has been that these schools do both with vigor.

KARL V. HERTZ
AASA PAST PRESIDENT,
THIENSVILLE, WIS.


Snow Day Announcements
Nice collection of examples about creative school leaders making snow calls in various communities in your Leadership Lite column “Not Your Mundane Snow Closure Call” (January 2018).

Once when our school district in Delaware had a bit of snow on St. Patrick’s Day, I recorded the announcement using my best Irish accent and began this way: “Top o’ the mornin’ to ya. We’ve a wee bit o’ snow so we’ll start with a wee delay today.”

DANIEL D. CURRY
SUPERINTENDENT,
CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
PRINCE FREDERICK, MD.


Creating Coherence
I was catching up with some journals and noticed David Moyer’s article, “Creating Coherence With Instructional Rounds,” in the December issue. I found it very interesting.

It is always valuable to get the insights from fellow practitioners who have put good models or programs in place that help us see how it is really done to improve teaching and learning in our schools. Sometimes a theoretical model may seem daunting, but to read about how actual school leaders put things in place makes it seem doable and helps you think how you might apply it in your school district.

JOHN H. CORRELL
SUPERINTENDENT,
SALT CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT 48,
VILLA PARK, ILL.