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President Obama Applauds Graduates at Historic School in Memphis • New Leader in Chicago, p.3 • Top Scholars Named, p.6 • Denver Budget Up, p.9 LEGISLATIVE • Program vs. Program, p.10 The Nation’s Voice for Urban Education May 2011 Vol. 20, No. 4 www.cgcs.org Council Report On Black Males Sparking ‘Change’ When an eye-opening report in No- vember woke the nation to a crisis among young black males, many urban school dis- tricts heeded the study’s call for change and are considering or launching initiatives to help African-American male students suc- ceed in life. The report by the Council of the Great City Schools -- A Call for Change: The So- cial and Educational Factors Contributing to the Outcomes of Black Males in the Urban Schools -- presented stark data on the dif- Black Males continued on page 4 President Obama addresses the Booker T. Washington High School commencement in Memphis as he is flanked, left to right, by valedictorian Alexis Wilson and BTW principal Alisha Kiner. Photo Credit: Robert Jackson Stage Set for Council’s President Obama Applauds Graduates Fall Conference At Historic School in Memphis In Boston President Obama delivered a com- stand a chance.’ mencement address May 16 to graduates “We are here today because every single V i c t o r i a of the Booker T. Washington High School one of you stood tall and said, ‘Yes, we can.’ “Vicki” Ken- in Memphis, the city’s oldest high school Yes, we can learn. Yes, we can succeed. You nedy, widow for black students, established in 1926 dur- decided you would not be defined by where of the late U.S. ing segregation, and the alma mater of civil you come from but by where you want to Senator Ed- rights legend Benjamin Hooks. go, by what you want to achieve, the dreams ward Kennedy, “Every commencement is a day of cel- you hope to fulfill,” he stressed. will welcome ebration,” Obama said at the graduation The president selected Memphis’ Book- urban school ceremony at the Memphis Cook Conven- er T. Washington High School as the win- leaders at the tion Center. ner of the Race to the Top School Com- Council of the “This one is especially hopeful because mencement Challenge after some 400 Great City Vicki Kennedy some people say that schools like BTW high schools around the nation competed Schools’ An- just aren’t supposed to succeed in Amer- for the honor to have the president as the nual Fall Con- ica. You’ll hear them say, ‘The streets are commencement speaker. ference, Oct. 26-30, in Boston. too rough in those neighborhoods.’ The BTW was among six finalists chosen Fall Conference continued on page 8 schools are too broken.’ ‘The kids don’t -- four of the schools, including Memphis, Memphis continued on page 4 INSIDE THE COUNCIL MAY 2011 Miami, Houston Schools Win College Board’s Inspiration Awards At Mater Academy Middle/High School in Miami, more than 80 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced- price lunch, yet the school has a gradua- tion rate of more than 90 percent and more than 90 percent of seniors are accepted to college. And at Furr High School in Houston, the average family income of most stu- dents rank among the lowest in Texas, yet nearly 80 percent of seniors will take an Advanced Placement (AP) exam this year, while 97 percent of this year’s graduating seniors were accepted to a college or uni- versity. For their success in improving academ- ic achievement, the schools were recently selected as recipients of the 2011 College Board Inspiration Awards. The awards are Houston’s Furr High School Principal Bertie Simmons accepts the College Board Inspiration Award during an assembly as presented to three high schools across the Houston Schools Superintendent Terry Grier and College Board President Gaston Caperton look on. Photo Credit: Houston nation that are helping underserved stu- ISD dents achieve access to higher education, despite overwhelming odds. grades 6-12 and places a strong emphasis, vice, ranging from admission to financial The awards also recognize schools for starting with students in sixth grade, on aid, to help parents prepare their children their outstanding college-preparation pro- preparing students to attend post second- for college. And each year, the school takes grams and partnerships among teachers, ary institutions. Many of the students at seniors on a five-day tour of college cam- parents and community organizations. the Miami school will be the first in their puses. Each winning school receives $25,000. families to attend college, so the school At Houston’s Furr High School, all stu- Mater Academy serves students in offers Parent Academies that provide ad- Inspiration Awards continued on page 3 Executive Director Editor Associate Editor Michael Casserly Henry Duvall Tonya Harris [email protected] [email protected] Council officers A newsletter published by the Council of the Great City Schools, representing 65 of the nation’s largest urban public school districts. Chair Dilafruz Williams Albuquerque Chicago Fort Worth Louisville Oklahoma City St. Louis Board Member, Portland, Ore. Anchorage Cincinnati Fresno Memphis Omaha St. Paul Chair-elect Atlanta Clark Co. Greensboro Miami-Dade Orange Co. San Diego Beverly Hall Austin Cleveland Houston Milwaukee Palm Beach San Francisco Superintendent, Atlanta Baltimore Columbus Indianapolis Minneapolis Philadelphia Seattle Birmingham Dallas Jackson Nashville Pittsburgh Shreveport Secretary-Treasurer Boston Dayton Jacksonville Newark Portland Tampa Candy Olson Broward Co. Denver Kansas City New Orleans Providence Toledo Board Member, Hillsborough Buffalo Des Moines Little Rock New York City Richmond Washington DC County (Tampa) Charleston Detroit Long Beach Norfolk Rochester Wichita Charlotte East Baton Rouge Los Angeles Oakland Sacramento All news items should be submitted to: Urban Educator Council of the Great City Schools 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Suite 702 • Washington, DC 20004 (202) 393-2427 • (202) 393-2400 (fax) | URBAN EDUCATOR URBAN EDUCATOR | MAY 2011 INSIDE THE COUNCIL Rochester Superintendent Takes Chicago Reins; Newark Names New Chief and Boston Maintains Leader J e a n - C l a u d e trict since 2008, and under his leadership Anderson oversees an alternative school Brizard is the son of the 38,000-student school district raised district in New York City, which serves ap- Haitian immigrants the four-year graduation rate, increased proximately 40,000 at-risk or incarcerated who began his career the number of students taking Advanced students. She is credited with improving as a junior high sci- Placement (AP) courses, increased the per- the district’s G.E.D. program, tripling the ence teacher in New centage of students meeting or exceeding number of students in the program who York City. Years standards in all grades, decreased suspen- took and passed the G.E.D. exam. later, he is now in sions and launched a 10-year, $1.2-billion U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan position to lead the schools modernization program. praised her selection in a news statement Jean-Claude Brizard nation’s third largest Before taking the position in Rochester, saying, “I believe she can provide the kind school district. Brizard was senior executive for policy and of bold vision that will help Newark con- Brizard was recently selected by Chi- sustainability in the New York City public tinue its crucial work toward providing all cago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel to head school system, where he was responsible for children the opportunity at a high-quality Chicago Public Schools. increasing student achievement, overseeing public education.” Brizard has served as superintendent of budget and accountability issues and initi- New York’s Rochester City School Dis- ating policy. Contract Extended in Boston Bolgen Vargas, who previously served as president of the Rochester school board, Carol Johnson was recently named Rochester schools in- was named the su- Inspiration Awards continued from page 2 terim superintendent. perintendent of Bos- ton Public Schools in dents who are on grade level are recruited New Leader in Newark 2007 and during her to take part in the school’s Pre-AP or AP tenure, the district’s program, and Saturday school for AP is re- dropout rate has de- quired for freshmen who are not meeting creased, graduation expectations. Large and small-group meet- rates have increased, ings are held for parents where teachers more high schools Carol Johnson and administrators explain the benefits of offer college-level participation in rigorous courses and pro- courses and a new reading program has vide information about applying to college. been implemented in elementary schools. And in semimonthly “Coffee with Princi- As a result of her success, the Boston pals” meetings, parents and administrators School Committee has extended her con- discuss goals, the importance and value of tract to 2015. homework and review results of bench- Cami Anderson, who was recently selected to lead Newark “Superintendent Johnson continues to mark assessments. Public Schools, talks with U.S. Education Secretary Arne demonstrate that she is the best person Duncan, left, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “The 2011 Inspiration Award winners Photo Credit: Spencer C. Tucker to lead this school district,” said Gregory offer vivid proof that school innovation Groover, the chairperson of the Boston can help close the achievement gap,” said School Committee. College Board President Gaston Caperton. Chicago Public Schools is not the only “I love working in Boston,” said John- “Through their example, many more stu- urban school district to tap a leader who son in the Boston Globe. “We have good dents will graduate ready to participate in worked in the nation’s largest school sys- students, some talented school leaders and a competitive global economy.” tem. teachers, and a community committed to The winners of the Inspiration Awards Cami Anderson, a New York City su- improving the quality of education for all are chosen by a distinguished panel of perintendent, was recently appointed by children.
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