Business Time
People have been asking me what is going on with the charter school. Things are moving along. We will be awarded our charter at the DESE board meeting today, which means we are the real deal, legit, and authentic. This also means we are going to start enrolling. Spread the word if you know of a family with current fourth and fifth graders in St Louis City who want a rigorous, college-prep education for their child. South City Prep wants ‘em. We are in lease negotiations on a temporary home (two years) in a great location, so I’m excited to announce that when we can. You can read our first bit of press in the St Louis Business Journal. We’ve also hired our Head of School and hope to continuing hiring in the next 2-3 months. If you are one of those people who graciously offered to volunteer for the school back when I didn’t have anything for you to do, here’s a heads up: hide yo’ kids, hide yo’ wife. I’mma coming for you soon.
Last week, a team from SCP, including myself, visited three high-performing charter schools in the New Orleans area. Because of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has a huge charter school populations. More than half of their public schools are charters. We saw some downright awe-inspiring schools getting incredible results, and I left feeling really inspired and motivated about what’s to do to get ready to educate kids.
I have learned so much through this process, particularly during our visits to high-performing schools. I’ve seen, over and over in our visits, programming implemented the right way, with all stakeholders intensely-committed to educating kids. I’d seen bits and pieces tried elsewhere, never with the dramatic results these schools are getting. I’m completely rethinking how I think we educate teachers. Before, I knew that we were doing it wrong, but I didn’t know exactly how I would train teachers differently. This is something I could expound on at length but I’ll still stand by what I’ve said before, which is that it should absolutely be harder to become a teacher. I’ll also say these schools weren’t perfect, but there’s a lot we can learn and play with when designing programming for our school.
While in New Orleans, also got to scout some eatin’, and I would highly recommend Cochon if you are in New Orleans. We had an outstanding meal that surpassed my expectations, and I would undoubtedly visit again when I return to the city. You should go there if you get the chance. It’s a great place for people really into food to take their less-adventurous friends and have a meal that satisfies everyone. Totally approachable food that was still exciting.
Unrelated to anything serious, I’m a finalist for the RFT’s Web Awards in the category of Best Personal Blog. I’m going to lose to up against my friend and fellow Church of Burger Priestess Stef Pollack of fantastic The Cupcake Project. So many of my friends are up for awards, which makes me a member of the cool nerds, I guess.
Thank you so much to whomever nominated me, unless this is some weird elaborate prank to humiliate me, like on Carrie. Because if it is, me and my dirty pillows will have no problem sourcing heritage-breed pig blood that I can and will telepathically hurl at my would-be humiliators. I also still have a pig head. So, basically, JUST TRY ME.
Check back next week to see if I “win” or not. I hope, like all situations I find myself in, it involves a giant check.
Tags: Cochon, New Orleans, Riverfront Times Web Awards, South City Prep
(On January 19th, 2011 at 9:25 am)
I know I’m 100 miles away but if there’s anything I can do to help, contact me: JnetWrites@gmail.com 217-416-2953
Keep up the great work, KBO!!!
(On January 20th, 2011 at 4:36 pm)
dude. NOLA…Bayona and August blew my mind. Seriously, there were particles and fragment and it was really super-gross. Still…i heart NOLA.
Also, the work you’re putting in with SCC, well, that shit makes me glad I know you. Have at ‘em, kiddo.
(On January 20th, 2011 at 6:38 pm)
KBO,
Congratulation on the new adventure. Keep the standards and expectations high and accept nothing less. Kids today need and want to be challenged. It is amazing what they can accomplish when enough people care and expect nothing but their best.
Should you look to expand your new educational empire, please keep the DMI in mind.
All the best,
Holla.
(On January 22nd, 2011 at 8:49 am)
I just started reading – huzzah for another St Louis person! – and I’m really excited about this whole charter school thing! If you need anything (and you don’t mind me having a toddler in tow) don’t hesitate to send me an e-mail.
(On February 24th, 2011 at 10:34 am)
I support your desire to create good education choices. I am a teacher working in the public schools so I know first hand how difficult it is. We are up against a lot: poverty, violence, a litigious and irresponsible society. I hope that your school succeeds where so many others have failed but I really hate hearing you continue to say that it should be harder to be a teacher. It sounds like you are blaming teachers for all the ills of education. It’s not that I believe that teachers are perfect and have no part in the whole troubling puzzle, but I know that I work hard and getting my degrees to teach was an arduous and expensive process. Also, the teachers I work with bust their asses to try to help our kids.
At least make specific suggestions otherwise it just sounds like more finger-pointing.
(On February 24th, 2011 at 11:06 am)
TeacherLady–
Perhaps you don’t know my background. I am a former high school teacher; I have a master’s degree in Secondary Ed and am starting my dissertation for an Ed.D in education. I also worked in higher ed assisting individuals with four-year degrees in earning teacher certification.
It absolutely, positively should be harder to become a teacher. When I worked in higher ed, I had people whose desire to teach stemmed from a desire for “summers off”. I had people who argued about the amount of required coursework because they didn’t like to read. I had many, many people who didn’t want to take coursework to become a teacher; they believed they should just be able to take a test in order to become certified, without any pedagogical training. We had a student who failed her Praxis exam 21 times and thought she should be in the classroom. That is bullshit and doesn’t help kids. Period. We need intelligent, hardworking, competent, professionally-trained teachers who have an arsenal of instructional tools they can use to teach all kids. I’m sorry if this offends you, but I don’t think anyone who wants to should be a teacher, just like I don’t think anyone who wants to should be a doctor.
I am absolutely not blaming teachers for the ills of education; this is my major problem with how the national dialogue on education is currently framed. I know way too many hardworking teachers busting their asses for kids. They are often overworked and underpaid and definitely underappreciated. But I also know people who have no business being in the classroom still employed, and that hurts kids. There is a happy medium between maligning teachers (and unions) and allowing terrible teachers to keep their jobs. We need to rethink the entire professional environment so ALL kids are getting the education they deserve.
(On March 2nd, 2011 at 9:35 am)
so… did you win the Award or not???