Hustle. Most teachers in America could dramatically improve their teaching if they just made every second count. In Michael Bloomberg’s autobiography, he mentions that he found people were wasting a lot of time in meetings so he removed the chairs to change their mind-set about how long the meeting was expected to last. Speed and urgency matter.
Rigor. Teachers should pitch instruction at a high level. Think of kids at the dinner table listening to their parents having a political conversation: the children may not understand everything but they will still benefit from it and they will become familiar with the concepts over time. Similarly, not every kid has to understand every word or every idea in a lesson. It’s better to aim a lesson too high than too low.
Going Beyond Z. Running good schools is a lot about simple hard work: doing the next step, doing the extra credit—just as you have by reading this chapter.
Acknowledgments
I’m thankful to the many people who read and commented on this book and who have helped Success Academy thrive.
Success simply wouldn’t exist without Joel Greenblatt and John Petry who started it and continue to provide great financial support and wise counsel to this day. It would not have thrived without Daniel and Margaret Loeb, who provided support at a critical moment in our history. Their first contribution allowed us to open up three new schools in Brooklyn and they have continued to be generous supporters. In 2013, Daniel took over as chair of our Network board, an enormous time commitment. Since then, he has been an incredible thought partner, contributing toward our mission and design in countless ways. He has brought innumerable politicians, journalists, and civic and business leaders to visit our schools, which has provided enriching learning experiences for our scholars and the visitors alike. Wielding his influence in countless ways, Daniel is really our Chief Advocacy Officer for children.
Sam Cole leads the board for our schools (a separate entity from the Network). It is the most time consuming of all of the board positions and his willingness to find the time for it shows his deep commitment to our schools and the children they serve.
The late Don Fisher gave us our first substantial outside philanthropic contribution, and the Fisher family, with Doris and John now leading the way, have continued to support us at every turn. Eli and Edye Broad were also early and generous supporters. Their leadership in the arts, sciences, and education reform puts them in the pantheon of American philanthropists. John and Regina Scully joined our board, gave us our first eight-figure gift to jump-start our scaling mission, and have hosted numerous events for us in their beautiful home in San Francisco.
Bruce and Suzie Kovner have become true mainstays, starting with early support from the Kovner Foundation that has grown into transformative funding for the Success Academy Education Institute, Suzie’s service as a member of the board, and much more. Roger Hertog supported my first run for office, has advised me ever since, and, along with his wife Susan, has provided generous support for the Education Institute.
John and Jenny Paulson have funded our second high school, the renovation of the historic Bronx Borough Courthouse where it will be located, and two middle schools. John has also provided an invaluable service by using his position as an important civic leader to advocate on behalf of our schools. Board member Tali Farhadian Weinstein and her husband, Boaz Weinstein, have started two elementary schools, and they have been deeply engaged in providing wonderful learning experiences for our scholars and faculty.
In 2013, Julian Robertson agreed to fund the Success Academy Education Institute, which is providing a digital platform for all of our internal training needs as well as the external vehicle for sharing with other schools the curricula, pedagogy, and training we have developed over the past decade. Julian’s support enabled the complicated task of codifying, streamlining, organizing, and digitizing all of our curricular and training materials. He subsequently gave us a $25 million gift, by far the largest we’ve ever received. I’ve heard Julian speak movingly about how his philanthropic endeavors stem from the commitment to community that he learned as a child from his parents and I hope that, just as he learned from their example, others will learn from his.
My husband, Eric, and our three children—Culver, Dillon, and Hannah—have not only sustained me personally but have each made innumerable contributions to Success Academies. My love for them knows no bounds. My parents, Anita and Marty, taught me the value of education and what it means to stand up for an ethical society. My mother-in-law, Alex Grannis, has supported my career at every turn. I’m especially grateful to Jocelyn Galvez, the executive assistant everyone wants, who makes all possible with my crazy life.
Finally, I am profoundly grateful to everyone at Success who works so hard day in and day out. This includes not only our educators but also our students and their parents. Their commitment to educational excellence is what keeps me going.
Notes
As a trained historian, it was important to me that this book be completely, so it was meticulously researched. Tens of thousands of emails, hundreds of articles, and numerous documents obtained through freedom of information law requests were reviewed. In addition, many people were interviewed.
For the sake of brevity, I have deleted portions of my quotes and those of people associated with Success Academy or my family without indicating ellipses because I believed they would be distracting and of little utility. Examples of this include my emails as well as those of Khari Shabazz and Andrew Malone, the teacher entries quoted in the chapter concerning Kate Taylor’s coverage, and my grandfather Chaim’s poems and diary entries. I did not take this liberty with respect to anybody not associated with Success Academy or me personally.
For fact-checking purposes, drafts of this book had nearly 500 endnotes, many to internal Success emails, but I have deleted nearly all of them in the published text because they served little purpose. Where I quote a newspaper, I’ve generally identified the newspaper in the text so it can be located with an Internet search. The endnotes below reflect only those instances in which I believed it would be useful to the reader to have a citation. Throughout this book, I cite information regarding test scores, class size, demographics, and budgets for both Success’s schools and district schools. That information is contained in the New York State Education Department’s schools report cards and in the New York City Department of Education’s progress reports, school surveys, school-based expenditure reports, school quality snapshots, registers, and average class-size reports. All of the foregoing reports are readily available on the SED and DOE websites simply by searching for the school in question. Information regarding school utilization can be obtained by searching on the website of the School Construction Authority (www.nycsca.org) for the enrollment, capacity, and utilization reports, also known as the “Blue Book.”
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2. David M. Herszenhorn, “Mayor’s Goal Is ‘Thin’ Pact With Teachers,” New York Times, February 05, 2004, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/06/nyregion/mayor-s-goal-is-thin-pact-with-teachers.html.
3. Ryan Sager, “Mayor On the Edge of a Sellout—Letting Teachers Union Off The Hook,” New York Post, October 20, 2004, accessed May 31, 2017, http://nypost.com/2004/10/20/mayor-on-the-edge-of-a-sellout-letting-teachers-union-off-the-hook/.
4. Cassi Feldman, “Working Families Fracas: Dems Blast Party for Meddling,” City Limits, September 12, 2005, http://citylimits.org/2005/09/12/working-families-fracas-dems-blast-party-for-meddling/.
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7. Hannah Arendt, The Portable Hannah Arendt (New York: P
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8. Elissa Gootman, “Moskowitz, Critic of Education Department and Union, Will Head a Charter School,” New York Times, December 10, 2005, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/nyregion/11eva.html.
9. Ibid.
10. “Children’s Access to Care,” American Federation of Teachers, accessed May 31, 2017, https://www.aft.org/childrens-health-safety-and-well-being/childrens-access-care.
11. “United Federation of Teachers Comparison of 2002 & 2009 Governance Laws,” United Federation of Teachers, accessed June 14, 2017, https://www.uft.org/files/attachments/uft-governance-101.pdf.
12. Maura Walz, “Harlem Success students welcomed back with a protest.” Chalkbeat, September 9, 2009. Accessed June 14, 2017. http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2009/09/09/harlem-success-students-welcomed-back-with-a-protest/.
13. “PS123 & Harlem Protest HSA Charter Invasion,” YouTube, posted by “Angel Gonzalez,” September 13, 2009, accessed May 31, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H42lPSqjiHg.
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15. Thomas K. Duane, “Statement By New York State Senator Thomas K. Duane Before the New York City Department of Education, the District 3 Community Education Council And School Leadership Teams Regarding the Proposed Co-location of Upper West Success Charter School With Existing Schools in the Brandeis Educational Campus,” January 25, 2011, accessed May 31, 2017, https://www.nysenate.gov/sites/default/files/articles/attachments/DuaneTestimony%20on%20Upper%20West%20Success.pdf.
16. Unequal Shares: The Surprising Facts about Charter Schools and Overcrowding, Report, New York Charter School Center, October 2011, accessed June 15, 2017, http://www.nyccharterschools.org/sites/default/files/resources/unequal_shares.pdf.
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19. Tom Topousis, “Council Catfight: The Contest For the Upper East Side’s City Council Seat Is a Vicious Battle Royale,” New York Post, October 13, 1999, accessed May 31, 2017, http://nypost.com/1999/10/13/council-catfightthe-contest-for-the-upper-east-sides-city-council-seat-is-a-vicious-battle-royale/.
20. Ibid.
21. “District 3 Press Conf Part 1,” YouTube, posted by “GEMNYC1,” October 21, 2010, accessed May 31, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-2TYzOCrQs.
22. Conor Skelding, “Female officials on Moskowitz, Palin, age-reporting,” Politico PRO, March 12, 2014, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2014/03/8541779/female-officials-moskowitz-palin-age-reporting.
23. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2016/05/17/on-the-anniversary-of-brown-v-board-new-evidence-that-u-s-schools-are-resegregating/
24. Nikhita Venugopal, “De Blasio Demands Investigation of Cobble Hill Charter School,” DNAinfo New York, April 24, 2013, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130424/cobble-hill/de-blasio-demands-investigation-of-cobble-hill-charter-school.
25. Ibid.
26. “De Blasio takes on city’s treatment of Moskowitz charter schools,” Chalkbeat, April 22, 2013, accessed May 31, 2017, http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2013/04/22/de-blasio-takes-on-citys-treatment-of-moskowitz-charter-schools/#.VHYJM4vay3w.
27. Bernard P. Orland, “PCB Wipe Sampling Report,” May 8, 2013, accessed May 31, 2017, http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/7F169C51-448A-43CB-8002-AE2669D51A8E/144293/M1232020PCB.pdf.
28. The Editors, “Editorial: Pandering to the UFT,” Observer, May 14, 2013, accessed May 31, 2017, http://observer.com/2013/05/editorial-pandering-to-the-uft/.
29. Michael Powell, “Moskowitz from:powellnyt - Twitter Search,” Twitter, February 22, 2017, accessed May 31, 2017, https://twitter.com/powellnyt/status/339483686875578370.
30. “In Debate Debut, Anthony Weiner Talks Education And Puts Gov. Cuomo On Notice,” NY Daily News, May 28, 2013, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/debate-debut-anthony-weiner-talks-education-puts-gov-cuomo-notice-blog-entry-1.1694793.
31. Jim Epstein, “Sick: NYC’s Bill de Blasio Puts Politics Before Poor Kids,” Reason.com, March 9, 2014, accessed May 31, 2017, http://reason.com/blog/2014/03/09/reason-tv-replay-sick-nycs-bill-de-blasi.
32. Helen Zelon and Leah Robinson, “The 2013 Primary Candidates on Education,” City Limits, October 27, 2014, accessed May 31, 2017, http://citylimits.org/2013/09/05/the-2013-primary-candidates-on-education/.
33. John Toscano, “Labor Council Names Committee To Deal With McLaughlin Probe,” Queens Gazette, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.qgazette.com/news/2006-03-08/features/024.html; Juan Gonzalez, “Labor Has Plan to Handle Probe. Juan Gonzalez Exclusive on Bid-rig Investigation,” NY Daily News, March 7, 2006, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/labor-plan-handle-probe-juan-gonzalez-exclusive-bid-rig-investigation-article-1.598212.
34. Steven Greenhouse, “Mayor Knew Of Investigation Even as Unions Backed Him,” New York Times, March 4, 2006, accessed May 31, 2017, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402E0DA1431F937A35750C0A9609C8B63.
35. Sarina Trangle, “PS/IS 49 to lose principal,” TimesLedger, February 6, 2014, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2014/6/lombardi_tl_2014_02_07_q.htm.
36. Geoff Decker, “Sea of parents and advocates take to streets for charter schools,” Chalkbeat, April 12, 2016, accessed May 31, 2017, http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2013/10/08/sea-of-parents-and-advocates-take-to-streets-for-charter-schools/#.VV8fLfmrSso.
37. Post Editorial Board, “Parents’ historic march for charter schools,” New York Post, October 6, 2013, accessed May 31, 2017, http://nypost.com/2013/10/06/parents-historic-march-for-charter-schools/.
38. Ben Chapman, “Charter school rally sends message to Bill de Blasio, Joe Lhota,” NY Daily News, October 8, 2013, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.nydailynews.com/newyork/education/charter-school-rally-sends-message-de-balsio-lhota-article-1.1479884.
39. “Second Revised Building Utilization Plan,” Schools.nyc.gov, accessed May 31, 2017, http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/7AC20E2C-5933-4F54-806B-DA19BE3A9C55/149454/SAHarlem4inM149andM207BUP_vFINAL1.pdf; “Educational Impact Statement: The Proposed Co-location of Grades Five through Eight of Success Academy Charter School—Harlem 4 (84M386) with Existing Schools P.S. 149 Sojourner Truth (03M149), P.S. M811 Mickey Mantle School (75M811), and Grades Kindergarten through Four of Success Academy Charter School—Harlem 1 (84M351) in Tandem Buildings M149 and M207 Beginning in the 2014–2015 School Year,” NYC Department of Education, August 30, 2013, accessed May 31, 2017, http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/7AC20E2C-5933-4F54-806B-DA19BE3A9C55/149453/SAHarlem4inM149andM207EIS_vFINAL1.pdf.
40. MYFOX New York Staff. “Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina on rough first 2 months.” Internet Archive, March 7, 2014, accessed June 5, 2017, https://web.archive.org/web/20140311011757/http://www.myfoxny.com/story/24913914/schools-chancellor-carmen-farina-on-rough-first-2-months.
41. Diane Ravitch, “New York Schools: The Roar of the Charters,” New York Review of Books, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2014/mar/27/new-york-charters-against-deblasio/.
42. Valerie Strauss, “The Big Losers in NYD Charter Fight: Students With Disabilities,” Washington Post, April 14, 2014, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/04/14/the-big-losers-in-nyc-charter-fight-students-with-disabilities/.
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45. Diane Ravitch, “New York Schools: The Roar of the Charters,” New York Review of Books, March 27, 2014, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2014/mar/27/new-york-charters-against-deblasio/.
46. Lizzy Ratner, “Taking on Unions, And Paying a Price,” Observer, December 8, 2003, accessed June 15, 2017, http://observer.com/2003/12/taking-on-unions-and-paying-a-price/.
47. “We’re the teechers round hear.” Economist, November 20, 2003, accessed June 5, 2017, http://www.economist.com/node/2235294.
48. David Saltonstall, “It’s a Pointed Lesson In Political, School Ties,” NY Daily News, November 14, 2003, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/pointed-lesson-political-school-ties-article-1.514168.
49. Lizzy Ratner, “Taking on Unions, And Paying a Price,” Observer, December 7, 2003, accessed May 31, 2017, http://observer.com/2003/12/taking-on-unions-and-paying-a-price/.
50. Ibid.
51. Kate Taylor, “New York City Teachers’ Union Is Closing Portion of Its Brooklyn Charter School,” New York Times, February 27, 2015, accessed May 31, 2017, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/28/nyregion/new-york-city-teachers-union-is-closing-portion-of-its-brooklyn-charter-school.html.
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