At Analy’s helm
Analy Principal Chris Heller (Beth Schlanker / Press Democrat)
By ANDREA GRANAHAN / West County Correspondent
Analy High School grabbed national recognition this year when it placed 184th on Newsweek’s list of the country’s top 500 high schools. In an interview, Principal Chris Heller talks about what they do right and how they plan to continue the momentum this year.
What is Analy’s secret?
There’s no secret. We have good teachers and a good community that supports the teachers. The teachers come in with a positive mindset, and the students follow.
The community supplies additional resources through the Analy Foundation, the Boosters and the Band Wagon that supports the band activities. And we have seventh period.
What is seventh period about?
There are a lot of requirements we fill the first six periods. The “electives” the students choose have really become requirements for college, like foreign languages. Seventh period is to create projects. It’s for choice.
What kind of projects?
An example is the Eco-Action class. They created the school garden and maintain it. Someone donated a water catchment to them, and they are using it now.
This school year we are working with O’Reilly Media to create a Maker Class, an exciting, groundbreaking class in innovation. The students will have two hours twice a week to build something. There’s no curriculum.
There is a very collegial relationship between our students and teachers. It’s unique because the feeling is so positive. When students feel connected to the school it makes school work enjoyable, not a chore.
How many of your students go on to college?
Over 80 percent. Over 90 percent do well on the Advancement Placement test.
Do you have to teach to the test?
Yes and no. Our teachers do get across the technical style and format of the test. Our math teacher, Betsy Amirkhan, somehow always gets her calculus students to get perfect scores. I don’t question how she does it. I’m just glad she can.
We are honored to be where we are. All the teachers put in extra time on their own for the exam.
Aiming for higher than 184 next year?
We raise the bar each year. It gets harder and harder to get into college, so we have to prepare our students.
How many freshmen are you expecting this year?
We have 330 coming in, 1,280 students total. We are becoming a magnet school with our elective programs. This year we are turning our art program into an Advanced Placement class, expanding it. The students will learn digital arts, among others.
What other elective programs do you offer?
We have regional occupation programs like wood and auto shop. We have a foods class teaching culinary arts. We have a clothing class teaching design — students design and sew the costumes for our Drama Department. We have an ag class that has planted a vineyard. Maybe someday we can sell Tiger Red as a fundraiser.
Do you have to do fundraising?
Well, our choir has been invited to the Ukraine, and our drama class has been invited to a festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. That means we have to raise $100,000 if we accept the invitations.
You seem to have very active drama and music classes.
Oh, yes. The band goes to Disneyland to play, and they play for the Giants at AT&T Park. Last year our choir went to Carnegie Hall to sing.
None of our teachers are glory hounds. I inherited a good school that has been here 100 years, and the community proudly supports it. My role is to make sure good people do good things.
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Thanks for the great work Chris!
You did a great job at Middletown as well. I somewhat grew up on Cobb Mountain and know Middletown well. Glad we got you down here.
Matt