Courtesy of The 74 Million
https://www.the74million.org/
Transcript
Jamey Verrilli, founder of North Star Academy in Newark, New Jersey, discussed the school’s inception in 1997. Initially teaching at a private school, Verrilli advocated for free education as a civil right and co-founded North Star with Norman Atkins. The school emphasized community and rigorous academics, inspired by best practices from mission-driven schools. They introduced the “community circle” ritual and a balanced curriculum combining fundamentals and conceptual understanding. North Star’s success led to replication, growing from 72 students in 1997 to over 4,000 across 12 campuses. The school now boasts a 70% college retention rate, significantly higher than the national average for similar demographics.
Action Items
- [ ] Share North Star’s reading curriculum and model with a local district school to help them replicate the success.
- [ ] Continue to collaborate with other charter networks to share best practices and help improve education for all students in Newark.
- [ ] Maintain focus on preparing North Star students for the transition to and through college, with a goal of reaching a 100% college completion rate.
Outline
North Star Academy’s Founding and Initial Challenges
- Jamey Verrilli recounts their journey to Newark, New Jersey, in 1985 as part of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, having previously worked in the Bronx.
- They describe their initial teaching role at a private school for low-income families in the heart of Newark, highlighting the moderate tuition fees and their belief in free education as a civil right.
- Jamey Verrilli began researching charter schools and decided to create a new one, facing initial challenges in finding financial backing and support.
- A board member recommended Norman Atkins, a journalist, who showed interest in the project after a detailed discussion about education and school models.
Partnership with Norman Atkins and School Design
- Norman Atkins, a journalist and education enthusiast, showed interest in partnering with Speaker 1 to create a high-quality, college-preparatory charter school in Newark.
- They spent three hours discussing various aspects of education, including standardized testing, school models, and the potential impact on urban children’s lives.
- Together, they decided to create North Star Academy Charter School of Newark, aiming to provide a community-focused, rigorous academic environment.
- The school was designed around two pillars: community and rigorous college preparatory academics, inspired by best practices from other mission-driven schools.
Implementing Best Practices and Overcoming Challenges
- Jamey Verrilli and Norman visited various schools, including KIPP Academy and De La Salle Academy, to learn and replicate best practices.
- They faced challenges in curriculum design, focusing on both fundamental skills and conceptual understanding, especially in math and reading.
- The community circle ritual was introduced, combining West African traditions with civil rights movements, to foster a sense of community and shared values.
- They discovered that great teachers are made, not born, and developed a system of coaching and observation to build effective teachers.
Curriculum Development and Student Support
- North Star Academy developed its own curriculum from scratch, focusing on rigorous standards and continuous improvement based on student results.
- They found that a balanced approach was necessary, combining fundamental skills with conceptual understanding, especially in math and reading.
- The school faced challenges in preparing students for college, leading to adjustments in the curriculum to ensure students were well-prepared for higher education.
- A support team was established to help students transition to college, addressing cultural and structural differences between North Star and college environments.
Replication and Expansion of Best Practices
- North Star Academy’s success led to the replication of its model across multiple campuses in Newark, with a focus on slow, careful growth to maintain quality.
- Key teachers like Michael Mann and Julie Jackson played crucial roles in replicating the school’s best practices and developing new teachers.
- The school’s model has attracted visitors from around the world, who come to study and replicate its best practices in their own schools.
- North Star’s success has inspired other schools and districts to adopt its model, aiming to improve educational outcomes for urban students.
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