Courtesy of The 74 Million
https://www.the74million.org/
Transcript
Richard Whitmire discusses his interest in high-performing charter schools, sparked by a conversation with Don Shelby. Whitmire’s initial exposure to successful charters came while researching his book “Why Boys Fail,” which highlighted schools like KIPP and Uncommon Schools. He was impressed by the cooperation among these schools, which typically compete for resources. This culture of sharing is traced back to Harriet Ball, who taught KIPP founders techniques that emphasized learning and sharing. Whitmire emphasizes the significant impact of these schools on reducing the racial learning gap for low-income minority students, noting that half of K-12 students fit this demographic.
Action Items
- [ ] Follow up with Don Shelby to discuss the book idea further.
- [ ] Reach out to Harriet Ball to learn more about her influence on the KIPP founders and the culture of sharing.
- [ ] Investigate the specific techniques and methods used by high-performing charters to reduce the racial learning gap.
Outline
Meeting Don Shelby and the Idea for the Book
- Richard Whitmire shares their initial interest in high-performing charter schools and their long-standing connection with Don Shelby, who was always energetic and engaging on the phone.
- In Sacramento, they finally met in person, and Shelby suggested exploring the success stories of high-performing charters, which sparked the idea for a book.
- Richard Whitmire had some free time due to an Emerson Collective fellowship and began co-interviewing with Shelby, realizing the potential for a compelling narrative.
- Don Shelby’s buoyant personality and his success in building strong people-to-people relationships made him a natural fit for the project.
Initial Interest in High-Performing Charters
- Richard Whitmire’s interest in high-performing charters began while working on the editorial page at USA Today, where they discovered exceptional schools and wrote about them.
- Their first book, “Why Boys Fail,” focused on finding schools where boys were succeeding, leading them to charter schools like KIPP and Uncommon Schools.
- The experience of visiting these charter schools revealed their potential and the unique culture of cooperation among competitors.
- Richard Whitmire was intrigued by the unusual level of sharing among charter schools, which is rare in competitive environments.
The Culture of Sharing Among Charter Schools
- Richard Whitmire highlights the unusual cooperation among high-performing charter schools, which compete for resources but still share their methods and successes.
- This culture of sharing is particularly notable because it could have easily turned into competition, but it did not.
- An interview with Dave Levin provided insight into the origins of this sharing ethos, tracing it back to Harriet Ball, a teacher who taught KIPP founders valuable techniques.
- Ball’s condition for sharing her knowledge was that the schools had to continue the tradition of sharing, which Levin saw as the foundation of the current culture.
Impact of High-Performing Charters on Low-Income Minority Students
- Richard Whitmire notes the remarkable success of high-performing charter schools in reducing the racial learning gap for low-income minority students.
- These schools have demonstrated significant progress in educating a large number of students who are often overlooked in traditional schools.
- The urgency of this issue is emphasized, as half of all K-12 students fit the description of low-income minority students, and the country stands to lose their potential if they are not adequately educated.
- Richard Whitmire underscores the importance of these schools in providing opportunities for students who might otherwise be left behind.
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