Born to Rise
A Story of Children and Teachers Reaching Their Highest Potential
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4.6 • 24 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
“Parents and principals trying to understand what makes successful schools work ought to read Born to Rise.” — New York Times
Born to Rise is the inspiring account of Deborah Kenny’s pursuit of social justice for our nation’s most vulnerable children. Part memoir, part manifesto, it is a hopeful and practical exposition of what it takes to transform schools and create organizations where the staff lights up with entrepreneurial drive.
Students enter Harlem Village Academies, the network of charter schools Kenny founded, several years behind grade level, but in just a few years they are transformed, ranking among the highest in the nation. How did they do it? For the first time, Kenny reveals the secret to creating a powerful workplace culture that attracts the most talented people and brings out their passion and highest performance—a culture that produces stunning student achievement results and teachers who regularly use words like “magical” to describe the workplace environment. It is a must-read for anyone who cares about children and the future of this country and for leaders who want to inspire fierce dedication in their employees.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
One woman's tragedy turns into triumph for hundreds of Harlem schoolchildren in Kenny's personal and professional memoir of founding the Harlem Village Academies, a successful group of charter schools that serve some of New York City's neediest students. After losing her husband, an exemplary man she considered to be "born to a higher purpose," to leukemia, Kenny sought and found her own purpose by creating a set of phenomenal inner-city schools where teachers could be treated like true professionals, banking on her belief that "a focus on talent is the one thing that will fix public education in America." Inspired by educators and reformers such as Jonathan Kozol and Geoffrey Canada, Kenny wanted to create schools that would give all students access to the sorts of educational privileges she and her own children had known. Though the pace slows as Kenny flounders to discern her vision and spends long months working on planning and funding for the schools, the anecdotes of successful teachers (Kenny's "rock stars") at work and students whose lives were truly turned around by her work prove persuasive and uplifting.
Customer Reviews
Great read!
Whether you are looking to start a charter school or simply want more out of your school or own children, this is an inspirational read!
Imagine what could happen...
if teachers were set free from union rules and politics in order to do what is best for children and not what just what is best for job security or political football. This book tells the story of following that dream to reality. With the right culture, people, talent, and freedom, the opportunity for all children to learn and be successful presents itself. This is a story about the labor of love that discovered the necessity of those prerequisites and empowered teachers to put them all together.
May teachers regain their noble status in our culture through work like those pioneers at HVA did to reform education due to their love of children.
Exceptional
While at the National Charter School Conference a few weeks ago, I was honored to hear Dr. Kenny as the keynote speak. I honestly had no idea who she was; however, ten minutes into her interview, I found myself downloading her book right there in the conventional hall. Dr. Kenny and I share the same vision in building a school. It's about people and empowering our teachers! As a leader of a charter school in Las Vegas, I can only dream of being as successful as she has been in her schools. I want all of my leadership team to read this book!