Lufkin Road Middle teams with business partner to study 'quality' business practices


EMC Corporation in Apex, NC recently presented a $9,089 check to Lufkin Road Middle School as a demonstration of the company's commitment to the community and education. Featured left to right: Brenda Levine, Apex HR Manager., EMC; Jim Palermo, Principal Lufkin Road Middle; Michael Kerouac, Vice President of Apex Manufacturing, EMC; Bill Sanger, Manufacturing Engineering Manager., EMC; and Karen Durrett, Curriculum Integration Coordinator, Lufkin Road Middle

May 6, 2003 - Lufkin Road Middle School began an initiative this school year to implement the business practices of quality tools and continuous improvement throughout the school.

The school's business partner, EMC Corporation of Apex, is helping the school initiate these quality control concepts with a two-year commitment of EMC personnel to serve as coaches, as well as a financial contribution. EMC staff who use the concepts at work and are members of a professional organization that supports the use of quality tools will assist Lufkin Road Middle to bring the philosophy and practices to the school's staff and students.

Continuous Improvement, the business practice of Total Quality Management, has been translated into the middle school setting as Quality Keys. A student-centered approach to middle school education, the Quality Keys program applies quality improvement principles to the classroom and school management.

The program encourages students' to behave responsibly, achieve a healthy sense of self-esteem, feel proud of their achievements, strive to meet high standards and sustain an enthusiasm for learning.

Lufkin Road Middle principal Jim Palermo and four Lufkin Road Middle teachers have formed a steering committee for the initiative. The steering committee worked with Quality coach Megan Page of EMC to launch the school-wide initiative with two days of Quality Keys training last fall. This spring the school provided training for its entire staff. Students will be taught the language, processes, and tools of quality next school year.

Upon completion of the training program, Lufkin Road Middle will receive national certification as a Quality School by the American Society for Quality. Currently, there are nine other schools in the state with this distinction.

American Society for Quality

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