Mr. Lopez Does Not Play

Last year I visited Oakland Charter Academy (OCA) in Oakland, California. A colleague suggested that I visit to see this extraordinary school with my own eyes.

Indeed, OCA is an impressive high school. The students, 96% Latino and African American, are focusing and working hard, always. Their hard work pays off. Their GreatSchools Rating is a 9 out of 10, and their GreatSchools parent reviews are glowing. In fact, the parents who have left comments and reviews on GreatSchools.net tell the story better than I can:

(October 2006)
"My child attended another charter school before coming to OCA and had all kinds of problems. I took her out and put her here at OCA, it was the best move I made. My daughter hated it at first, but as a parent that is a good sign in Oakland. There is strict disicpline, and tons of work. I used to be a person who thought that all charters schools were good, but in the search for a school in Oakland, boy did I get an eye opener. So many bad charter schools! I am very pleased with OCA and all of the focus on education and children. All my girl needed was authority and structure, but this is what most schools in this city avoid giving."

(September 2006)
"What can you say? The most improved school in the city 2 years in a row. It is strict, and gives a lot of homework, and Mr. Lopez does not play. But my child has grown tremendously, academically and matured. Keep up the good work."

Principal Jorge Lopez is the key to OCA’s success. Simply put, he does not play. He sets high expectations for behavior and academic achievement. He sets high expectations for his teachers: They work hard to reach kids who often have not experienced success in school before. And he sets high expectations for himself: He's always learning about new education issues himself and pushing the school to improve.

When I visited, he told me that one of his motivational tricks is to challenge the mostly poor kids who attend the school: Do you want to grow up cleaning the homes of the rich people who live in the hills? Are you as good as their children? The answer, clearly, is that Jorge's kids are as good as "their" children.

Congress is debating changes to the No Child Left Behind Act, which is supposed to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged kids. I think they ought to cut short testimony from experts who have never turned a school around, and they ought to call Jorge Lopez and a dozen like him to the stand and learn what it really takes to turn a failing school around.

The key to turning around low-performing schools in this country is to find 20,000 Jorge Lopez's and give them the tools they need to succeed. Let's talk about how to make that happen.

Comments

[success for all]

This school claims to educate "inner city youth" with a no excuses philosophy -- you work hard, you get where you want to go. I have seen scores of students from urban schools work hard, get to college only to realize that it is not always about hard work. In fact, its often not about hard work. And they have only their k12 education to look to for explanations. What schools like Lopez's school do is educate without the social critique -- they teach without the theory to understand institutional racism, for example. Trained to believe that only their hard work got them where they are, they then believe that it must be their lack of effort causing their failure. And those who do succeed, believe that they have earned it and anyone who has not made it must be lesser than them. They are marginalized, at best, from their own communities.

What their school "succeeds" in is nothing to be proud of -- they are recognized as a good school by the NCLB mandate? Please. Raising test scores does not mean the same thing as educating students.

They are educating students to legitimate a system that privileges and few, rather than educating students to change the world. They are training citizens who will truly believe that George W won the elections, rather than youth who disbelieve and work tirelessly to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Lopez doesn't play? Please! He plays -- he's playing the same tired game that ensures that we reproduce the same tired system.

[wcpss]

Mr. Lopez's school works for several reasons that do not apply to the vast majority of schools. First, it is a charter school, which allows it to be selcted and selective. In other words, parents are already built-in supporters in that they choose have their kids attend, and it is likely the charter school can have some say in which students it takes in.
In addition, charter schools, by virtue of being charter schools, have the opportunity to chart their own course/path and are given the authority and support to do so by the school system. How many public school principals are given the authority and support to do what is necessary to ensure their school's vision and mission are carried out without a lot of roadblocks put in their way, whether by parents or administrators? How many regular public schools have a clear mission and vision and are granted the authority and resources to make them a reality? What kinds of teachers do schools have to choose from?
Charter schools have much more narrow and specific goals due to their charter/reason for being in the first place. So not only are the students there by preference, but the teachers are as well, and selected to meet those particular goals. In public schools, the diversity of views, needs, perceptions as to why they are there, etc., of the public schools' teachers, students, and parents makes the job a whole lot more difficult.
Forget looking at charter schools or even magnet schools. Look at ordinary, everyday public schools that are dealing with the typical array of issues/problems that come up in a diverse community. Those schools that are succeeding in spite of typical obstacles are the schools to be studied for clues to their success.

[Lisa Marie Mary]

Mr. Lopez sounds amazing! My children were blessed enough to have a principal like that - it was a wonderful experience! He was completely involved in the education of every student and got the teachers and the kids and the parents all motivated to do our best! Educators like Mr. Feekin (Big Springs Elem., Rich.,TX) and Mr. Lopez definitely have a spot waiting for them in heaven! ;)

[Danner Janney]

Yes, I have a friend whose daughter is in the program. It sounds like a great opportunity for those interested in a flexible alternative to the classroom. www.minnesotavirtualhighschool.com is the site. Seems like a pretty cool option.

[Sandy]

Anyone heard anything about Minnesota Virtual High School? I hear it's free, accredited, and offers kids opportunity to go to school online (part-time and full-time).

[West Memorial Academy]

Please add my school to your networking- I started West Memorial Academy in west Houston, TX last Aug. After 34 years teaching special education I started a school for Spec. Needs Kids in west Houston,TX. I will appreciate any referrals you send my way. Thx. J.Wolgamott Founder & Director.832-477-6674

[Sharon M. Anderson]

FYI, charter schools ARE public schools, at least they are here in Minnesota.

"In Minnesota charter schools are tuition free independent public schools that are open to, and welcome all students not matter ability or need, and are governed and operated jointly by licensed teachers, parents and community members."

(Definition from MN Association of Charter Schools, http://www.mncharterschools.org/index.htm)

They are open to everyone.

[brigitte rossi]

hello ,
kvmdtv is a locale channel 23 we have a program on southern california and we are always looking for interresting guests and topics we are doing a segment for back to school and we would like to invite you for an interview,we are located in los angeles the show is called "southerncalifornialife"
if anyone from your organization would be interrested to come and chat with our host heather dawson in studio please let me know,
brossi@kvmdtv.com
guest relations
warm regards
brigitte rossi

[Debra B Gills]

Please forward me a contact person for more information evaluating Charter Schools. My daughter attended a Charter School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and her experience was not good. Parental Involvement appears to be unwanted. However there is very little feedback provided.

[dee]

I'm outraged this best school is a charter school. My son attends a public school next year all he has is two classes to graduate. Fourth generation hispanic here in the United States and for once someone in my family as a chance for college because of NCLB they cut all the AP courses and won't provide the expanded options college on-line due to low income minorities first. We are just out of the range after I fought for sb. 300. So all he was going to get is two classes his senior year as what about a NO SENIOR LEFT BEHIND ACT?

My learning disabled kids were shorted services too NCLB, and it really upsets me that we have these big CEO's that peddle this slogan which gets out of accountability and shuts the doors on public education as well as demoralized these union workers NCLB. The very kids we leave behind is all of them NCLB.