If you were school-aged prior to the 21st
century, you can attest to the fact that school choices were extremely
limited. Standard in most households, was
that you either went to your neighborhood school or to the private school that
your parents insisted that you attend.
How exciting to know that those times have changed! The new standard in education now is Choice.
Grand Prairie ISD recently held a one-day symposium at the
University of Texas in Arlington to bring awareness to the growing need and desire
for choice in education.
The UT-Arlington event titled, “Choice: Its Role in Public
Education Today, “ attracted state leaders, school superintendents, principals
and national experts in education reform.
Speakers at the symposium included SBISD SKY Partnership’s Mandelé Davis, Project
Manager, Mike Feinberg, Ed.D, founder of KIPP Houston Public Schools and Grand
Prairie Superintendent, Susan Hull, Ed.D
“Folks want to make choices, they want to be responsible for their
student’s education. Meeting the needs
of our parents is what we have to do,” Dr. Hull said.
 |
| Susan Hull, Ed.D, Superintendent of Grand Prairie ISD and Mandele Davis, Project Manager, SKY Partnership |
Grand Prairie ISD currently has 39 district schools. Thirteen of the 39 are Schools of Choice that include Garner Fine Arts Academy and Dubisky Career High School, both of which are highly sought after programs.
In
addition to Dr. Hull’s keynote talk, the SKY Partnership team presented
insights and a first-hand look into the benefits of a public school district partnering with charter organizations. "Simply put, adding charters increases
choice.
Charter
schools alone are not the answer, but a great opportunity," Dr. Feinberg
said.
SBISD
through its SKY Partnership now offers middle school charter programs at two
campuses. KIPP Courage College Prep is housed at Landrum Middle School; YES
Prep at Northbrook is based at Northbrook Middle School. Over time, these
programs will offer a high school charter program at Northbrook High School.
In
other compelling speeches, speakers noted that we are no longer living in the
days of yesteryear, but we must live in the now and hardwire our
students to be successful in whatever career path they choose.
Other
symposium presenters included Texas State Senators Royce West of Dallas and
Kelly Hancock of North Richland Hills; J. Puckett, senior partner and managing
director of Boston Consulting Group; Todd Williams, executive director of
Commit!, a Dallas-based, nonprofit educational group; and David Anthony, CEO of
the Austin-based nonprofit, Raise Your Hand Texas.
