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Recent Posts for Guest Contributors
Todd Finn: Improving schools for kids — in spite of adult obstacles
A year has passed since NoDropouts.org ran the story of my journey from homeless teen to high school principal. Slowly, that story circulated throughout the community of educators who also view the dropout epidemic as a priority. Eventually, I was asked to advocate for schools and organizations who seek to commit their energy to keeping kids in school. Because of the article, I have served on panels in Greensboro, N.C. and will be taping a show for UNCTV and PBS called The American Graduate. Truly, there is an interest in focusing on improving graduation rates across America, and I am honored to be a part of the movement.
I am now the principal at New Hanover High School in Wilmington, N.C. I accepted this position in June of 2011, having completed one year as principal at West Bladen High, about an hour up the road.
We had a magical year at West Bladen, starting with a letter that was circulated inviting dropouts back to school. It turned out to be quite effective. In fact, we were most proud to be able to say that every senior who walked through our doors at west Bladen on Aug. 25, 2010 graduated in June, 2011.
Five Questions with Kerri Briggs: "People want to do what works"
Through an intense focus on middle school improvement that leverages the best available research and practice, the George W. Bush Institute is seeking to dramatically increase the number of students who are well-prepared to enter high school and are ready to earn a meaningful diploma through its Middle School Matters initiative.
Duncan: Supporting Reform While Maintaining a Commitment to At-Risk Students
From Education Secretary Arne Duncan this week, a clarification on how Race For The Top money is directed toward at-risk students...
President Obama firmly believes that all children deserve a world-class education. When he says all children, he means all – regardless of their race, ethnicity, disability, native language, income level or zip code.
Sparking a lasting change: Dropout prevention through meaningful mentorship
Tania had a dream: She wanted to be an attorney.
But no one at school asked about her aspirations – and as a result she was not clear on why education was essential to meeting her goal. At home, where no one in her family had completed high school, the path from school to Tania’s dream was still unclear. By the seventh grade, she was struggling academically — and already she had settled upon the assumption that she would simply follow in her mother’s footsteps as a Wal-Mart cashier.
Five Questions with Debbie Schum
Last month, Louisiana announced a new plan to aid troubled public school students after an earlier dropout prevention program was scrapped. In this edition of our "Five Questions" series, Debbie Schum, executive director of college and career readiness at the Lousiana Department of Education, provides a first-hand assessment of the Pelican State's emphasis on research-focused programs to keep students in school as educators work together toward a lofty goal.
Bob Wise: "I definitely have some unfinished business"
Bob Wise is proud of his time in the West Virginia Governor’s Office. As chief executive of the Mountain State from 2001 to 2005, a time of intractable economic strife, the career politician nonetheless found a way to preside over significant education reforms, including the creation of the PROMISE scholarship program.
Five Questions for Marguerite W. Kondracke
Five Questions for Gov. Jeb Bush
As the former governor of Florida and a prominent member of one of America's most powerful political families, Jeb Bush could have done pretty much anything he wanted to when he left office.
Some figured he'd run for the U.S. Senate. Others thought he'd logically want to sit behind the desk in the office that his father and brother once occupied. The Associated Press even reported the the National Football League had offered him a job as commissioner.
Five Questions for Dr. Stephen Jones
In the first edition of our "Five Questions" series of interviews with individuals on the front lines of the fight to improve graduation rates, NoDropouts.org speaks with education consultant, author and Villanova University associate dean Dr. Stephen Jones, who has called for universities to play a stronger role in battling the dropout epidemic — starting with taking a greater academic interest in athletic recruits.
Stopping the Pipeline: Restorative Justice in Urban Schools
One month ago a coalition of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and lawyers convened in Washington, D.C., at a conference entitled, "Civil Rights in School Discipline: Addressing Disparities to Ensure Educational Opportunity," cosponsored by the Department of Justice and the Department of Education.