When a young businessman named Scott Gordon talked about creating a new charter school in Philadelphia in 2000, he had a vision of something bigger.
His idea is that the reform of public education to build not only the school, “said Jeremy Nowak, CEO of CRF, for seven years as Chairman of the Control of charter schools.
After visiting the master of the four schools Tuesday, the U. S. Education Arne Duncan, the minister said Al Sharpton and former Speaker Newt Gingrich, Gordon’s vision of providing rigorous, college-Prep Education for All national models for public schools can.
Was “It is good for us,” Gordon said yesterday. “We have clearly said that we wanted to change in Philly, but we also wanted to show that to reach all children, regardless of their origin, the highest level.”
Mastery approach aims to prepare students for college with the strict code of conduct and an intensive program, with personal responsibility and social skills.
The model includes a high school day (from 8 to 4 pm) and one-year high school. Students must fight and Saturday tutoring sessions. All students must demonstrate “mastery” notes to earn at least 76 per cent until March.
Gordon, 47, originally from Philadelphia, took an unusual path for educational reformers.
Phi Beta Kappa marketing, the state of New York Binghamton University an MBA from Yale University, Gordon began his career working for General Foods Corp.
But his interests went on business. In college, Gordon cites fewer than 50 countries for “outstanding potential for leadership in public service.”
1980 graduate of Cherry Hill East High School, Gordon returns to the region, discovered in 1993, Home Care Associates, an employee-owned company of home health modeled on the Bronx.
Working with former welfare recipients, Gordon points to the need to improve urban schools. But is his work as a consultant for the project of Greater Philadelphia First, the demand for skills have led to the charter school with the business community in this area.
Among these, it turned out he was on Novak, president and CEO of the Reinvestment Fund, an organization nonprofit that finances neighborhood and economic development projects. Gordon was asked to build the Charter and the transformation of public education.
“I thought he was too fat completely,” said Novak, whose profits are the seed money for Partners Home Care Gordon. “I could not resist.”
Nowak, NOWS manages the fund, which supports all said Master of the school; he was impressed by the intelligence Gordon, Focus, discipline and perseverance.
“We’ve seen him grow and develop. We’re just proud that so much art has become an important national model.”
Gordon’s First Charter School – Charter School of Excellence Lenfest Campus, which opened in 2001 and won – renowned for academic success and to send 90 percent of college graduates.
Based on all Lenfest, Paul Vallas, former chief schools of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia School Reform Commission Mastery hit three of the most troubled high schools: Thomas in Philadelphia, shoemaker in the West, and Pickett Germantown convert. With new leaders, new teachers, and a new approach, which saw the violent overthrow of the skill and the collection of test results, winning national awards. In Shoemaker, twice, for example, assessment of eighth grade reading in three years, over 80 percent in the class.
Jordan Meranus, a partner NewSchool Venture Fund, an organization non-profit with offices in Boston and California, calls himself “a big fan of Scott Gordon.”
“This is not an excuse mantra,” said Meranus. “Many people talk about high expectations in education. Scott lives and breathes.”
Meranus, the mastery of the Council was five years ago, said he saw a radical change in the troubled Philadelphia school.
Gordon said he, to use such skills management expert as he could, his vision of excellence in education for transfer students and staff. “Now, who bought a top-down, all in this vision, said Meranus.
Tall, slender and discreet, “said Gordon seems uncomfortable in the spotlight. When the attention on him, Gordon will move its staff and students.
But he was pleased that his vision is now synchronized with the efforts of Obama and director of the Philadelphia school Arlene Ackerman transform struggling schools.
Although it becomes Nibbles schools in other districts, according to Gordon, who cultivate more effective control, in Philadelphia.
“We want to take the most difficult schools. We want the elementary and secondary schools, and we want to take the most difficult areas in the city. ”
It is suitable for all in the plan, which he and nine years ago.
“It was not always pair Charter Schools,” said Gordon. “This must be a way to modify the functioning of institutions and really raise the bar for all students…. we are a little more each day.”
