This petition comes from the collective community at Darnell-Cookman Middle/High School of the Medical Arts and reflects the concerns of faculty, students, parents, and alumni. Darnell-Cookman is an A-rated school with consistently high scores for standardized testing and other measures of academic excellency. Ms. Talley has been the keystone for upholding this impressive performance as she exceeds her job requirements and assists with nearly all school functions, all while taking the time to get to know her students and take a personal interest in their lives to make each viking who enrolls leave better than they were when they came. It is crucial to keep Ms. Talley at Darnell-Cookman for this reason as well as to keep leadership consistent for the sake of the students. Transferring Ms. Talley would affect the lives of each student at Darnell-Cookman, especially the high school juniors and seniors who are reliant on her each year for things like homecoming, prom, graduation, and many other crucial parts of becoming post-secondary ready. Darnell-Cookman runs as effectively as it does due to Ms. Talley's commitment and attention to detail; for example, she individually makes schedules for about 1,200 students from seven different grade levels. As a school that has already had a series of changes in staff over the past few years from new principals, to new guidance counselors, to new deans, it is evident that students perform best when their learning environment is consistent. Ms. Talley has been our sense of consistency and support for years, to move her midway through the year would diminish the flow we have established for the year and disrupt the remainder of the school year as Ms. Talley's replacement tries to settle in, catch up, and get to know his or her students. Once news spread of Ms. Talley's potential transfer it became clear just how strongly she has united the Darnell-Cookman family; alumni drove hours from college to speak on her behalf, current students and faculty came to school nearly an hour early to attend the SAC meeting, and parents took time from their busy schedules to retain their child's mentor. We all came together united under one thing: Ms. Talley's incredible impact on our lives. Darnell-Cookman is as successful as it is because of the determination, mentorship, and hard work kindled by Ms. Talley. To transfer her would be a detriment to the atmosphere she has crafted at Darnell-Cookman, and while she would bring a positive impact to the school she would move to, it is crucial to consider whether an eleventh hour move would be so beneficial for one school that it warrants such a blatant disservice to another school's consistency and success.