Courtesy of The 74 Million
https://www.the74million.org/
Transcript
Steve Barr, founder of Green Dot Public Schools, detailed his journey from politics to education reform. He discussed his early political involvement, including working for various Democratic candidates and campaigns. Barr highlighted his transition to education, inspired by the need for better public schools. He recounted the establishment of the first charter school in Lennox, California, in 1999, which aimed to address high dropout rates in underserved communities. Barr emphasized the challenges and successes, including community support and the overwhelming responsibility of starting a new school without a site or clear roadmap.
Action Items
- [ ] Establish the first Green Dot charter high school in Lennox.
- [ ] Hire teachers from the local middle school to help endorse the new high school.
- [ ] Meet with the superintendent and community stakeholders to gather feedback and advice on the new school.
- [ ] Organize a parent night event to present the new high school to the Lennox community.
- [ ] Secure a site for the new high school within the next 5 months before the school’s opening.
Outline
Steve Barr’s Political Journey and Early Influences
- Steve Barr discusses his early political involvement, including his role in the college Democrats and his work for various political campaigns, including those of Jerry Brown and Gary Hart.
- He mentions his book about his travels on the Olympic torch relay, which provided financial stability during the Reagan era.
- Barr reflects on his upbringing in poverty and his transition from a high school in San Jose to Cupertino High School, which exposed him to a culture of college attendance.
- He describes the impact of Proposition 13 on California’s public education system and the shift in focus from providing for all students to catering to a select few.
The Emergence of Charter Schools
- Barr recounts his involvement in politics and his frustration with the lack of meaningful change in education.
- He highlights the influence of liberal Democrats like Gary Hart, who sponsored the first charter school law in 1992.
- Barr shares a pivotal moment at a funeral where he met Reed Hastings, who was considering sponsoring an initiative to lift the cap on charter schools.
- This meeting marked the beginning of Barr’s journey into the charter school movement.
Personal Loss and Midlife Crisis
- Barr discusses the personal losses he experienced, including the death of his younger brother and stepfather, which led to a midlife crisis.
- He describes the impact of these losses on his perspective and his search for purpose beyond politics.
- Barr reflects on the differences in outcomes between himself and his brother, attributing it to the educational opportunities they received.
- He emphasizes the need for educational alternatives to address the needs of all students, not just a select few.
Meeting Reed Hastings and the Charter School Initiative
- Barr recounts his meeting with Reed Hastings and Don Chauvi, who were optimistic and not driven by fear, unlike many in politics and business.
- He describes his involvement in President Clinton’s announcement of a startup fund for 3000 charter schools by the year 2000.
- Barr shares his experience of testing ideas for charter schools by gathering signatures in supermarkets, using simple and effective messaging.
- He highlights the importance of community involvement and the challenges of explaining charter schools to the public.
The Green Dot Public Schools Movement
- Barr discusses the decision to focus on high schools in high-need areas, inspired by his own life-changing experience at 14.
- He describes the process of identifying the highest need areas in Los Angeles, particularly in the community of Lennox.
- Barr shares the challenges of building support for a new high school in Lennox, including the community’s initial skepticism and the need for extensive door-to-door outreach.
- He recounts the overwhelming response from the Lennox community at a parent night, where almost everyone signed up for the new school.
The Reality of Starting a New School
- Barr reflects on the overwhelming responsibility of starting a new school with limited resources and no clear roadmap.
- He describes the challenges of finding a site for the school, hiring teachers, and dealing with the city’s lack of investment in new high schools.
- Barr shares his emotional reaction to the success of the parent night, where the community’s support was evident.
- He emphasizes the importance of community involvement and the need for educational alternatives to address the needs of all students.
