Central Campus Plus English teacher Kristin Stratton was willing to do some things, but not others, to encourage her freshmen and sophomore English students to read more books.
"Blue never fades as pretty," Stratton said, so she dyed her hair a bright, fluorescent pink instead.
It's not the sort of dye that will wash right out either. Stratton's pink hair will be around for awhile, at least until it grows out.
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Andrea Johnson/MDN - - Kristin Stratton dyed her hair pink when her students met a reading goal during the last nine weeks. Here, she teaches a sophomore English class at Minot High School-Central Campus Plus on Monday morning.
Students in her class needed to read 4,000 pages in eight weeks to meet their goal and earn the prize of having a pink-haired English teacher. They read 5,000 pages, all during class. Stratton kept track of how much they were reading in her classes and had her students keep a journal.
Earlier in the semester, principal Bill Cox shaved his head when the students met an earlier reading goal.
For the last nine weeks, if students read another 6,000 pages, they will be rewarded with a barbecue.
Stratton and Cox said the emphasis on reading has paid off.
"Students who had never picked up a book before are now seeking out certain authors," said Stratton.
Cox said about 25 percent of the students at Central Campus Plus have a 3.0 GPA or above.
Central Campus Plus is an alternative high school program for grades 9 and 10, intended to help get kids on track academically. Students stay in the program a minimum of 45 days. Some transition back to Minot High School-Central Campus and others like the small class sizes and supportive atmosphere at Central Campus Plus and end up staying longer.
Cox said there are currently 23 ninth- and 10th-graders in the program.