JTHS surprises students for AP test achievements

As Joliet Township High School students enjoyed their school-free Friday mornings, the superintendent, principals and teachers were driving around, planning to surprise them.

A total of 519 students from the district received college credit last academic year by earning a score of 3, 4 or 5 on Advanced Placement exams, said Kristine Schlismann, the community and alumni relations director for JTHS.

For the first time, a team of about 15 JTHS teachers and administrators used assigned bus routes to show up at the homes of all 519 students, supplying them with school-spirited yard signs touting their AP accomplishments.

“This is just such a fun thing,” said Joliet West High School Principal Teresa Gibson. “The kids are always thankful for them, and it means something to them.”

JTHS administrators got the idea from another district at a national conference in Washington, D.C., last summer, Gibson said.

“It’s a lot of work doing this, but it’s well worth it,” Schlismann said.

Joliet Central High School Principal Shad Hallihan said the district has expanded its AP program over the years, trying to make the classes accessible to all students.

In 2017, the district won AP District of the Year by the College Board, recognized for its expansion efforts.

Joliet Central graduate Daniel Singh, who is headed to University of Missouri, earned college credits from two AP exams last year. After pulling up to Singh’s house Friday morning, Hallihan handed him a sign.

“I woke up this morning not expecting [this],” Singh said. “I feel honored because our high school gets a bad rap because of its location ... but my peers and I are constantly proving those naysayers wrong.”

Ashley Samsa, an AP literature teacher at Central, said she thinks the yard signs are a great initiative.

“The type of kids in AP classes – they’re not going to brag,” Samsa said. “It’s always nice to have a badge of honor to show how hard they worked.”

AP psychology teacher Julie Richmond, said she appreciates getting to make contact with her students.

“They build such a close relationship with their teachers,” Richmond said. “To see them outside of a professional working environment is always kind of fun.”