The hallways of Terra Linda have seen many new faces this year. From other schools in Marin, or even from other states, droves of students have been migrating to TL this school year. With the increase in transfers, the question on everyone’s mind is: What’s pulling so many people toward TL?
The “robust AP program” that the administration has been growing over the past few years has caught the attention of many. TL offers a vast selection of advanced placement classes to provide students with the opportunity to take rigorous, interesting classes , while having the chance to earn college credit. “We have over 60% of our students –10th grade and above– enrolled in at least one AP. A lot of other schools have prerequisites that don’t make some of these classes accessible,” shared Terra Linda principal Katy Dunlap, “At Terra Linda, we encourage students to challenge themselves. It’s not about taking an exam, it’s about accessing a challenging curriculum.” Terra Linda staff’s emphasis on encouraging students to challenge themselves has proven to attract curious and motivated students to our AP program.
Another draw might be the immense changes TL’s campus has undergone over the past few years: “Everything from the new student commons to a second gym has been changed. We’re the only school in Marin County that has two full-sized gyms.” Along with the gym, a new innovation hub, ceramic building, and field can now be spotted on campus. These changes have been in the works for many years, and are definitely a piece of the puzzle as to why students are transferring. Allie Simpson, a new ceramic teacher to TL this year, commented on the modern additions to campus. “At my old school, we didn’t have as nice of a building. The facilities here are gorgeous.” The new look of the campus has boosted TL’s status among schools in Marin, and it’s not hard to see why.
The Terra Linda administration understands the importance of a strong and dedicated staff. Over the past decade, under Ms. Dunlap’s leadership, the staff has changed a lot. Because of this, more students have access to knowledgeable, approachable teachers, impacting their education for the better. “The teachers are a lot friendlier and everyone’s a lot nicer here. They actually help you with work that you need help with,” commented Demaree Byrd, a junior at Terra Linda who transferred from Novato High School sophomore year. Ms. Dunlap has put a lot of emphasis on how she “carefully selects staff”, ensuring an enthusiastic and caring staff across all of the subjects.
Ms. Simpson wasn’t the only new faculty member to join the ranks of teachers this year. Terra Linda also gained Brandon Day (Music), Sandra Morgan (ELD), Jessica Stanton (PE), Julie Gallagher (English 9, JAM 1, 2, and L), Lauren Nord (Ethnic Studies and US History SDAIE), and Neesha Meyer (AP Physics). “Over the past number of years, we have really recruited teachers throughout Marin County. Teachers are getting recruited by other teachers,” shared Dunlap. This means that teachers are sharing their positive experiences at TL, and encouraging other teachers to join the TL community.
While the hallways of high school can be scary for any new student, TL students, staff, and administration have been doing their part to make sure transfers feel like they belong. There’s a reason why people have been choosing Terra Linda, as this school has been doing amazing things. From the extensive AP program to the attentive staff, Terra Linda is the place to be. Trojans should be proud to be a part of the TL community.
