Aspire Public Schools and Cal have done something special for East Bay kids. They have given them more than hopes and dreams, they have given ways and means, through an innovative and robust early college partnership; Cal Prep. This should be a model for higher education involvement in K-12 and I hope we see more…
The Facts on Oakland’s Foster Students and How We Can Do Better
It’s National Foster Care Month and Oakland’s numbers are crying out for action. We can do better, we need to do different, and this month and ongoing I will be shining a light on these children, our children. First let’s look at the facts—which are dismal—you can see the charts below from Oakland Unified. But…
Schools to Celebrate- Autism Inclusion in Harlem
New York City has a great program for autism inclusion in its district schools. Thing was, there wasn’t one in Harlem. We helped change that. While folks often see charters as modeling practices for the District, we stole the District’s model and put in a charter. And it’s working. It all started over steak-frites. A…
Real Stories of American Indian Public Charter School
It was over 15 years ago, when elders in the Native Community asked me help with the American Indian Public Charter School. A school, then in revocation, and now rated among the best schools in the City, state, and country. But at that time, nepotism reined, the school was in debt, had no employees, only…
Teachers Need Tools and Support not “Accountability”- Concretely Appreciating Teachers on Teacher Appreciation Week
Accountability like sh*t flows downhill. And accountability talk from policymakers and shills is like the halftime at a Raiders game after too many tailgate tacos. It’s teacher appreciation week, so let’s actually appreciate the lifeblood of schools, and give them a break. The current accountability talk, misses the soul of a school and teacher, and…