Charter School Leaders of Color
School leaders of color are finding new and better ways to help children learn by opening or working for charter schools. In fact, there’s a higher percentage of Black and Latino principals in charter schools than there are in traditional public schools.
Education Post frequently shares and highlights the work of these inspiring leaders, and here are other notable stories from around the country:
- “Superhero” Dion Steele Creates Limitless Possibilities at Urban Prep-Englewood
By Katelyn Silva, Chicago Defender, May 8, 2017
Dion Steele, principal of Urban Prep Academies’ Englewood campus, says he has “500 sons, and three daughters at home.” Urban Prep is the nation’s first charter network dedicated to serving young African-American men. For the last eight years in a row, Urban Prep has sent 100 percent of its graduates to college. - Paying It Forward: First-Generation College Grad Leads South Chicago Charter
By Maureen Kelleher, Chicago Defender, June 8, 2017
Vincent Gay, the principal of Baker College Prep in South Chicago, tells how his own experience as a first-generation college student inspired him to work in communities like the one where he grew up. - Chicago Principal Creates Model for Educating Black Boys
By Marilyn Rhames, Ebony, April 26, 2017
Christopher Goins runs Butler College Prep has a high success rate among his Black male students. And it’s largely for a simple reason. - Charter School Leader Works to Ensure Black Kids Aren’t Left Behind
By Katelyn Silva, Chicago Defender, April 19, 2017
Tanika Island Childress, principal and now CEO of the University of Chicago Charter School network, talks about her lifelong journey to develop the innate excellence of young Black children. - He Seeks More Black Men to Teach in Philly and Beyond
By Kristen Graham, The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 3, 2017
Sharif El-Mekki leads a Philadelphia charter school, and he also launched a fellowship to encourage more Black men into teaching.
On Our Blog
This School Is Changing the Lives of Young Women in Chicago
Before I began substituting at Young Women’s Leadership Charter School (YWLCS) of Chicago, I had only experienced charter schools from the outside looking in. I…
What It’s Like to Be a Black Woman Running a Charter School That’s Closing the Achievement Gap
Ramona Wilder comes from a long line of educators dating back to the 1800s when her great, great grandfather had old school church houses where…
Coffee Break: This Charter Leader Says You Have to Love Students Enough to Hold High Expectations
In January, Constance Brewer was named president of the Noble Network of Charter Schools, which serves more than 12,000 students on 18 high school campuses…
When We Listen to Parents, We Get Real School Choice
As a child, I often heard the words, “Listen to your parents.” It was usually uttered with a stern look and was often mandated from…
Back to the Roots of the Charter School Movement
As a longtime believer in the possibility of charter schools, the so-called “charter movement” has been a disappointment. But last week in New York City…
These Guys Aren’t Just Talking About It, They’re Recruiting and Keeping Male Educators of Color in the Classroom
Quick: Name all of the male educators of color you had growing up. Having trouble coming up with any? You’re not alone. Only 2 percent…
Parents, Educators and Community Members Speak Out Against the NAACP’s Charter Moratorium
“All over the country, dedicated educators of color are leading charter schools that cultivate the minds of children too-often locked out of success in traditional public schools.”…
Mia Howard Shows a Good School Needs Both the Soft Stuff and the Hard Data
A school that bakes parent engagement into its strategy for student success is a school after my own heart. Intrepid College Prep Schools, a Tennessee…
Coffee Break: Charter Leader Vanessa Rodriguez on the Real Difference-Maker We Should Be Talking About
Vanessa Rodriguez has deep experience working with the students of New York City. She started her career as a bilingual teacher at a Bronx elementary…
Ever Seen a Black Boy Superhero?
Dion Steele, principal of Urban Prep Academies’ Englewood campus, says he has “500 sons, and three daughters at home.” Urban Prep is the nation’s first…
