Successful Efforts to Turn Around a Cincinnati School Documented

Craig Hockenberry is a respected presence in his Ohio community who served as principal of Oyler School, a Pre-K-12 institution within the Cincinnati Public Schools. Craig Hockenberry’s efforts in turning around the school were recognized in “One School, One Year,” a 10-part series broadcast on American Public Media’s Marketplace program.

Ultimately developed into the OYLER video project, the documentary focused on a transformation in the Lower Price Hill neighborhood which is demographical “Urban Appalachian.” This is described as an insular community that has roots in West Virginia and Kentucky coal mining towns.

Prior to 2006, extremely few children from this community finished high school. As principal, Mr. Hockenberry created a “community learning center.” This involved year-round school accessibility, with meals provided throughout the day and hungry children sent home on the weekends with food. In addition, students gained access to on-site vision care and health clinic, as well as mental health counseling.

The results in addressing achievement gaps faced by low-income students were compelling. By 2012, through dedicated faculty and teacher efforts, only two of 38 seniors had failed to graduate and gain acceptance into college.