This superintendent has figured out how to make school work for poor kids

[brer cat]

It is such a joy to read about someone who actually gets what it takes to reach and teach children/youth in poverty and makes it happen. Bottom line: “she’s made Jennings School District a place where students and teachers want to be.” Well worth reading the entire article.

School districts don’t usually operate homeless shelters for their students. Nor do they often run food banks or have a system in place to provide whatever clothes kids need. Few offer regular access to pediatricians and mental health counselors, or make washers and dryers available to families desperate to get clean.

But the Jennings School District — serving about 3,000 students in a low-income, predominantly African American jurisdiction just north of St. Louis — does all of these things and more. When Superintendent Tiffany Anderson arrived here 3 1/2 years ago, she was determined to clear the barriers that so often keep poor kids from learning. And her approach has helped fuel a dramatic turnaround in Jennings, which has long been among the lowest-performing school districts in Missouri.

snip

There also is a new academic intensity in Jennings: Anderson has launched Saturday school, a college-prep program that offers an accelerated curriculum beginning in sixth grade, and a commitment to paying for college courses so students can earn an associate’s degree before they leave high school.

Anderson restored music, dance and drama programs that had been cut, as they so often are in high-poverty schools, finding the money for those and other innovations by closing two half-empty schools, cutting expensive administrative positions and welcoming new grants and a tide of philanthropic contributions. The district was running a deficit of $2 million before Anderson arrived and balanced the budget.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/this-superintendent-has-figured-out-how-to-make-school-work-for-poor-kids/2015/12/20/cadac2ca-a4e6-11e5-ad3f-991ce3374e23_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_jennings9p%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

[NV Whino]

1. So nice to hear good news for a change

There's a woman who knows what to do, an is not afraid to do it.

[randys1]

2. This is key ...

Anderson restored music, dance and drama programs that had been cut,

I could get behind doing this much more often in many other places

[Number23]

3. This is incredibly encouraging. Thanks for posting this

And it appears that she has a fund set up for donations!

Philanthropists are giving to Jennings, excited by the story that is unfolding here. The nonprofit foundation that Anderson set up to accept private donations has more than $80,000 in the bank to pay for the shelter, which can house up to 10 homeless and foster children, and for other efforts.

[MADem]

4. What an amazing woman--she reminds me of a cousin of mine, who was a wonderful

teacher in an underserved school. Even when she had the opportunity to switch to a "better" school, she stayed where she could do the most good.

POTUS/FLOTUS ought to invite her to sit in the balcony during the SOTU. She's a powerful good example!!!!!

[Cha]

5. Mahalo brer cat!

[lovemydog]

6. What a woman. Tiffany Anderson.

Thanks for sharing this story, brer cat.