Education Re-Form: Pig vs. chicken

I've never been a real breakfast person.  Even though I used to be a "morning person," I just couldn't get into the whole breakfast thing.  Having said that, I've always absolutely loved bacon.   I'm acutely aware of the sacrifice that the pig makes in this case.  It doesn't mean I don't like eggs or that the chicken isn't doing the best she can, it just means that the pig makes the ultimate sacrifice, and I am the benefactor.

When I started a charter school 13 years ago, I did it with a group of people who were committed to offering a good choice to families.  When I left the district, I became the pig on the breakfast plate of school reform. I left security to live what I had professed. While my friends who stayed in the district did their best to change an old rusty system that in many ways had forgotten why it exists -for kids; I began an adventure with the commitment that all decisions would be made with the consideration of how they affected kids.

So, what does a good choice look like?  It can look as different as all the differences that we find in each student.  Whatever it looks like, it looks especially good to parents who simply want the opportunity for their students to receive a high quality education.  It doesn't matter the color or social economic status of parents, there are many who care deeply about the educational opportunities afforded they kids. 

I knew right away that I had a lot to learn. That meant attending trainings with other educators.  I discovered that district educators considered charter educators as "enemies of the state."  I had to develop a thick skin and an eye only for the target - to provide the opportunity for high quality education for ALL kids.  Soon after we opened our doors, I flew to San Diego to attend an ASCD training on curriculum by design.  I sat at a table with 10 other educators in a packed room.  Everyone was pleasant and talkative.  Our first assignment was to go around the table and introduce ourselves.  I was the last person at the table to do introductions.  When I introduced myself and explained that I was with a charter school, eight of the nine other people at the table picked up their things and moved to a different table.  The remaining lady said, "It's ok.  I'll stay here with you."  I wanted to cry and run out of the room; but I reminded myself that I had paid a lot of money for the workshop, so I stayed.