[Music] how do you guys in this room have heard
how do you guys in this room have heard
how do you guys in this room have heard the traditional African proverb it takes
the traditional African proverb it takes
the traditional African proverb it takes a village to raise a child anyone and
a village to raise a child anyone and
a village to raise a child anyone and that is so apparent that it in today’s
that is so apparent that it in today’s
that is so apparent that it in today’s society when we think about this that it
society when we think about this that it
society when we think about this that it really does especially we were talking
really does especially we were talking
really does especially we were talking about the maturation of our youth you
about the maturation of our youth you
about the maturation of our youth you see the mysterion tribe in Africa they
see the mysterion tribe in Africa they
see the mysterion tribe in Africa they are very well invested into their
are very well invested into their
are very well invested into their culture and one other thing that’s very
culture and one other thing that’s very
culture and one other thing that’s very empowering with them is they are known
empowering with them is they are known
empowering with them is they are known in Africa is one of the most fierce
in Africa is one of the most fierce
in Africa is one of the most fierce tribes known in Kenya and one of the
tribes known in Kenya and one of the
tribes known in Kenya and one of the things they do when they go and greet
things they do when they go and greet
things they do when they go and greet each other face to face the first thing
each other face to face the first thing
each other face to face the first thing they always say is Caesarea Nagar a
they always say is Caesarea Nagar a
they always say is Caesarea Nagar a which means are the children well and
which means are the children well and
which means are the children well and regardless on the other end of that that
regardless on the other end of that that
regardless on the other end of that that individual in that village will respond
individual in that village will respond
individual in that village will respond even if they don’t have children with
even if they don’t have children with
even if they don’t have children with yes the children are well you see that
yes the children are well you see that
yes the children are well you see that is the pinnacle of everything right now
is the pinnacle of everything right now
is the pinnacle of everything right now that makes their village so successful
that makes their village so successful
that makes their village so successful is because it is about their children
is because it is about their children
is because it is about their children they understand the dynamics of how
they understand the dynamics of how
they understand the dynamics of how important it is to invest in the
important it is to invest in the
important it is to invest in the educational means the communication
educational means the communication
educational means the communication between their children you see in
between their children you see in
between their children you see in America right now our village is more
America right now our village is more
America right now our village is more important than ever
important than ever
important than ever you see we’re growing up in this
you see we’re growing up in this
you see we’re growing up in this fast-paced data-driven information world
fast-paced data-driven information world
fast-paced data-driven information world and students today in school they’re met
and students today in school they’re met
and students today in school they’re met with a myriad of challenges and
with a myriad of challenges and
with a myriad of challenges and opportunities and many families and
opportunities and many families and
opportunities and many families and support systems they don’t have that
support systems they don’t have that
support systems they don’t have that village so what happens well let’s look
village so what happens well let’s look
village so what happens well let’s look at that most of us we’ve grown up in
at that most of us we’ve grown up in
at that most of us we’ve grown up in unstandardized world would you say we
unstandardized world would you say we
unstandardized world would you say we were at different clothes we think
were at different clothes we think
were at different clothes we think different thoughts
different thoughts
different thoughts we’d different foods but Luna comes to
we’d different foods but Luna comes to
we’d different foods but Luna comes to education many of us are measured based
education many of us are measured based
education many of us are measured based upon our standardized test scores and
upon our standardized test scores and
upon our standardized test scores and grade level standards that we are
grade level standards that we are
grade level standards that we are expected to achieve greatness in order
expected to achieve greatness in order
expected to achieve greatness in order to succeed so what happens think about
to succeed so what happens think about
to succeed so what happens think about this what happens when you take
this what happens when you take
this what happens when you take child from an unstandardized upbringing
child from an unstandardized upbringing
child from an unstandardized upbringing and you put them into a standardized
and you put them into a standardized
and you put them into a standardized system well that is where the
system well that is where the
system well that is where the achievement gap is born and today I want
achievement gap is born and today I want
achievement gap is born and today I want to shine some light on really what can
to shine some light on really what can
to shine some light on really what can we do everyone in the crowd everyone
we do everyone in the crowd everyone
we do everyone in the crowd everyone watching this on YouTube what can we do
watching this on YouTube what can we do
watching this on YouTube what can we do that’s not gonna cost a lot of money or
that’s not gonna cost a lot of money or
that’s not gonna cost a lot of money or time or effort but to make every one of
time or effort but to make every one of
time or effort but to make every one of us whether in we’re in middle school
us whether in we’re in middle school
us whether in we’re in middle school high school a parent a grandparent to
high school a parent a grandparent to
high school a parent a grandparent to get up and make change to help this
get up and make change to help this
get up and make change to help this close this gap because this is affecting
close this gap because this is affecting
close this gap because this is affecting us everywhere especially within the
us everywhere especially within the
us everywhere especially within the United States you see what’s very
United States you see what’s very
United States you see what’s very interesting as I started doing research
interesting as I started doing research
interesting as I started doing research on this because I wanted to make sure
on this because I wanted to make sure
on this because I wanted to make sure that AI was prepared and B I knew what I
that AI was prepared and B I knew what I
that AI was prepared and B I knew what I was talking about so I looked at some of
was talking about so I looked at some of
was talking about so I looked at some of the statistics and one of them I formed
the statistics and one of them I formed
the statistics and one of them I formed statistics I looked up was under the
statistics I looked up was under the
statistics I looked up was under the McKinsey company looking at on a global
McKinsey company looking at on a global
McKinsey company looking at on a global scale in terms of economics what the
scale in terms of economics what the
scale in terms of economics what the impact of the achievement gap was
impact of the achievement gap was
impact of the achievement gap was happening happening and did you know
happening happening and did you know
happening happening and did you know that lagging achievement can be seen as
that lagging achievement can be seen as
that lagging achievement can be seen as early as fourth grade fourth grade is
early as fourth grade fourth grade is
early as fourth grade fourth grade is one of the strongest predictors in terms
one of the strongest predictors in terms
one of the strongest predictors in terms of student success at graduation rates
of student success at graduation rates
of student success at graduation rates in high school as well as college
in high school as well as college
in high school as well as college graduation not to mention lifetime
graduation not to mention lifetime
graduation not to mention lifetime earnings and fourth grade and it’s also
earnings and fourth grade and it’s also
earnings and fourth grade and it’s also shown that individuals lagging in
shown that individuals lagging in
shown that individuals lagging in performance on standardized tests in
performance on standardized tests in
performance on standardized tests in fourth grade will also be behind an
fourth grade will also be behind an
fourth grade will also be behind an eighth grade and if a student is in
eighth grade and if a student is in
eighth grade and if a student is in behind in eighth grade they will enter
behind in eighth grade they will enter
behind in eighth grade they will enter in most cases the job force with lower
in most cases the job force with lower
in most cases the job force with lower pain and lower skilled jobs all based
pain and lower skilled jobs all based
pain and lower skilled jobs all based upon the data that was shown you see in
upon the data that was shown you see in
upon the data that was shown you see in addition to that when we look at
addition to that when we look at
addition to that when we look at individuals who are less educated we see
individuals who are less educated we see
individuals who are less educated we see higher incidence rates of morbidity like
higher incidence rates of morbidity like
higher incidence rates of morbidity like obesity diabetes cardiovascular disease
obesity diabetes cardiovascular disease
obesity diabetes cardiovascular disease you know I was at a TEDx conference up
you know I was at a TEDx conference up
you know I was at a TEDx conference up in the Silicon Valley at the Harker
in the Silicon Valley at the Harker
in the Silicon Valley at the Harker school and I was asked to be a mentor
school and I was asked to be a mentor
school and I was asked to be a mentor and it was a great experience because I
and it was a great experience because I
and it was a great experience because I was taking an uber home and while I was
was taking an uber home and while I was
was taking an uber home and while I was waiting for the Hooper’s she pulled
waiting for the Hooper’s she pulled
waiting for the Hooper’s she pulled right up and I got in the back seat she
right up and I got in the back seat she
right up and I got in the back seat she was a 71 year old after
was a 71 year old after
was a 71 year old after an American lady and she was full of
an American lady and she was full of
an American lady and she was full of life because the minute I got in the car
life because the minute I got in the car
life because the minute I got in the car I knew I was gonna have a good time
I knew I was gonna have a good time
I knew I was gonna have a good time because we were talking and she asked me
because we were talking and she asked me
because we were talking and she asked me what I did and I started talking about
what I did and I started talking about
what I did and I started talking about education and I could see in the
education and I could see in the
education and I could see in the rearview mirror her eye started to well
rearview mirror her eye started to well
rearview mirror her eye started to well up a little bit like she started to
up a little bit like she started to
up a little bit like she started to close off but then she opened up right
close off but then she opened up right
close off but then she opened up right away and my goal with every individual
away and my goal with every individual
away and my goal with every individual that I come in contact with whether it
that I come in contact with whether it
that I come in contact with whether it be personally or professionally as to
be personally or professionally as to
be personally or professionally as to how can I learn from this person what
how can I learn from this person what
how can I learn from this person what can I get out of this person that will
can I get out of this person that will
can I get out of this person that will make me a better person so she started
make me a better person so she started
make me a better person so she started talking about okay I grew up I was one
talking about okay I grew up I was one
talking about okay I grew up I was one of five siblings my parents died in a
of five siblings my parents died in a
of five siblings my parents died in a freak accident when I was four years old
freak accident when I was four years old
freak accident when I was four years old and I grew up with my grandparents in a
and I grew up with my grandparents in a
and I grew up with my grandparents in a farm in the south of Mississippi and my
farm in the south of Mississippi and my
farm in the south of Mississippi and my grandparents were the ones who raised me
grandparents were the ones who raised me
grandparents were the ones who raised me and my job and my grandfather told me
and my job and my grandfather told me
and my job and my grandfather told me was the minute I started living on the
was the minute I started living on the
was the minute I started living on the farm that I was to help raise my
farm that I was to help raise my
farm that I was to help raise my siblings brothers and sisters as well as
siblings brothers and sisters as well as
siblings brothers and sisters as well as I was supposed to contribute to the
I was supposed to contribute to the
I was supposed to contribute to the livestock on her so she knew as early as
livestock on her so she knew as early as
livestock on her so she knew as early as first grade she wanted to be different
first grade she wanted to be different
first grade she wanted to be different than her brothers and sisters so she’s
than her brothers and sisters so she’s
than her brothers and sisters so she’s decided the first day just like her
decided the first day just like her
decided the first day just like her friend she was going to go to school
friend she was going to go to school
friend she was going to go to school first grade so she got ready went to
first grade so she got ready went to
first grade so she got ready went to school the first day and she came back
school the first day and she came back
school the first day and she came back home to tell everyone about it and when
home to tell everyone about it and when
home to tell everyone about it and when she got home her grandfather beat her
she got home her grandfather beat her
she got home her grandfather beat her because he said that education is not
because he said that education is not
because he said that education is not going to help support in terms of
going to help support in terms of
going to help support in terms of raising your brothers and sisters and
raising your brothers and sisters and
raising your brothers and sisters and will not put food on the table by
will not put food on the table by
will not put food on the table by raising our livestock and you will not
raising our livestock and you will not
raising our livestock and you will not go to school and so her brothers and
go to school and so her brothers and
go to school and so her brothers and sisters never went to school
sisters never went to school
sisters never went to school but for eleven years she snuck out of
but for eleven years she snuck out of
but for eleven years she snuck out of the house every morning she went to
the house every morning she went to
the house every morning she went to school she didn’t miss one day of school
school she didn’t miss one day of school
school she didn’t miss one day of school and she made a pact for their brothers
and she made a pact for their brothers
and she made a pact for their brothers and sisters that when she got a real job
and sisters that when she got a real job
and sisters that when she got a real job she would help support them and get them
she would help support them and get them
she would help support them and get them out of that same situation and so they
out of that same situation and so they
out of that same situation and so they lied for her for 11 years straight she
lied for her for 11 years straight she
lied for her for 11 years straight she was the first person in her life and her
was the first person in her life and her
was the first person in her life and her family to graduate from high school she
family to graduate from high school she
family to graduate from high school she even went on to go to graduate from
even went on to go to graduate from
even went on to go to graduate from college now interesting enough to say I
college now interesting enough to say I
college now interesting enough to say I made mention a point about less educated
made mention a point about less educated
made mention a point about less educated individuals higher rates of morbidity
individuals higher rates of morbidity
individuals higher rates of morbidity toover brothers died at 20 and 22 from
toover brothers died at 20 and 22 from
toover brothers died at 20 and 22 from Kearney
Kearney
Kearney arrests due to being extremely
arrests due to being extremely
arrests due to being extremely overweight both of her sisters died in
overweight both of her sisters died in
overweight both of her sisters died in the early 30s due to diabetes from being
the early 30s due to diabetes from being
the early 30s due to diabetes from being extremely overweight she contribute that
extremely overweight she contribute that
extremely overweight she contribute that because to that that the students they
because to that that the students they
because to that that the students they were taught her to take care of herself
were taught her to take care of herself
were taught her to take care of herself while her brothers and sisters they
while her brothers and sisters they
while her brothers and sisters they never went to the doctor they never got
never went to the doctor they never got
never went to the doctor they never got themselves checked out because they just
themselves checked out because they just
themselves checked out because they just she can’t claims weren’t educated enough
she can’t claims weren’t educated enough
she can’t claims weren’t educated enough to know what their well being and how
to know what their well being and how
to know what their well being and how the system worked you see these are some
the system worked you see these are some
the system worked you see these are some empowering stories when I look at the
empowering stories when I look at the
empowering stories when I look at the achievement gap and this is one example
achievement gap and this is one example
achievement gap and this is one example of a family gap you know it’s similar in
of a family gap you know it’s similar in
of a family gap you know it’s similar in a similar vein I wanted to start looking
a similar vein I wanted to start looking
a similar vein I wanted to start looking at in my own work what happens when
at in my own work what happens when
at in my own work what happens when opportunity is faced with a challenge
opportunity is faced with a challenge
opportunity is faced with a challenge the students really have a chance its
the students really have a chance its
the students really have a chance its failure destined for them so what what I
failure destined for them so what what I
failure destined for them so what what I do for work basically in a nutshell is I
do for work basically in a nutshell is I
do for work basically in a nutshell is I work bringing communities together I
work bringing communities together I
work bringing communities together I want to really focus on getting kids
want to really focus on getting kids
want to really focus on getting kids primarily from underserved communities
primarily from underserved communities
primarily from underserved communities into college and that’s really what it’s
into college and that’s really what it’s
into college and that’s really what it’s about and so one night I was having a
about and so one night I was having a
about and so one night I was having a parent night and this really really
parent night and this really really
parent night and this really really opened my eyes up to what’s going on
opened my eyes up to what’s going on
opened my eyes up to what’s going on within the educational system and this
within the educational system and this
within the educational system and this isn’t something I’m going to point the
isn’t something I’m going to point the
isn’t something I’m going to point the fingers at teachers administrators
fingers at teachers administrators
fingers at teachers administrators regret not even parents because what
regret not even parents because what
regret not even parents because what happened was that night kind of changed
happened was that night kind of changed
happened was that night kind of changed my life I got there early to set up and
my life I got there early to set up and
my life I got there early to set up and the design for the night was to have a
the design for the night was to have a
the design for the night was to have a parent night to have bring the community
parent night to have bring the community
parent night to have bring the community together bring people in from
together bring people in from
together bring people in from professional businesses bring people in
professional businesses bring people in
professional businesses bring people in from City Council bring people in to
from City Council bring people in to
from City Council bring people in to show support to show parents from
show support to show parents from
show support to show parents from first-generation backgrounds that hey
first-generation backgrounds that hey
first-generation backgrounds that hey kids have a chance so what happened was
kids have a chance so what happened was
kids have a chance so what happened was I brought them in and as I was setting
I brought them in and as I was setting
I brought them in and as I was setting up about a about an hour prior to I saw
up about a about an hour prior to I saw
up about a about an hour prior to I saw in the corner of the distance this mom
in the corner of the distance this mom
in the corner of the distance this mom and her daughter walk in and I was so
and her daughter walk in and I was so
and her daughter walk in and I was so excited because who shows up early to
excited because who shows up early to
excited because who shows up early to any sort of a sort of event so I walked
any sort of a sort of event so I walked
any sort of a sort of event so I walked directly to her because she sat in the
directly to her because she sat in the
directly to her because she sat in the back and I stuck my hand out and I
back and I stuck my hand out and I
back and I stuck my hand out and I looked down and I was excited I said
looked down and I was excited I said
looked down and I was excited I said thank you for coming my name is Dustin
thank you for coming my name is Dustin
thank you for coming my name is Dustin and she looked at me and she didn’t
and she looked at me and she didn’t
and she looked at me and she didn’t return the favor she didn’t stick out
return the favor she didn’t stick out
return the favor she didn’t stick out her hand and so I was a little off guard
her hand and so I was a little off guard
her hand and so I was a little off guard but she did do something that kind of
but she did do something that kind of
but she did do something that kind of caught me off guard
caught me off guard
caught me off guard she took her glasses off she said
she took her glasses off she said
she took her glasses off she said something that is still reverberating in
something that is still reverberating in
something that is still reverberating in my head
my head
my head she said why am I here why is this
she said why am I here why is this
she said why am I here why is this important and first thing I wanted to
important and first thing I wanted to
important and first thing I wanted to say is I want to say yeah it’s important
say is I want to say yeah it’s important
say is I want to say yeah it’s important but I didn’t come out that way I kind of
but I didn’t come out that way I kind of
but I didn’t come out that way I kind of took a step back and I said well you’re
took a step back and I said well you’re
took a step back and I said well you’re here because we’re driven to a college
here because we’re driven to a college
here because we’re driven to a college readiness night your daughter took a
readiness night your daughter took a
readiness night your daughter took a practice assessment with us and we’re
practice assessment with us and we’re
practice assessment with us and we’re really setting you up for success and
really setting you up for success and
really setting you up for success and ways to pay for college figuring out
ways to pay for college figuring out
ways to pay for college figuring out what is the best track whether it’s
what is the best track whether it’s
what is the best track whether it’s college or career for your daughter and
college or career for your daughter and
college or career for your daughter and she said I don’t want my daughter going
she said I don’t want my daughter going
she said I don’t want my daughter going to college it’s too expensive and I want
to college it’s too expensive and I want
to college it’s too expensive and I want her to get a job immediately after
her to get a job immediately after
her to get a job immediately after graduating in high school in order to
graduating in high school in order to
graduating in high school in order to contribute to society and once again I
contribute to society and once again I
contribute to society and once again I took a step back and I had to realize
took a step back and I had to realize
took a step back and I had to realize that there is some sort of disconnect
that there is some sort of disconnect
that there is some sort of disconnect there and it’s the educational knowledge
there and it’s the educational knowledge
there and it’s the educational knowledge that she is lacking so I said here’s the
that she is lacking so I said here’s the
that she is lacking so I said here’s the deal completely understand but since
deal completely understand but since
deal completely understand but since you’re here do you mind going in great
you’re here do you mind going in great
you’re here do you mind going in great you know if you want to grab some food
you know if you want to grab some food
you know if you want to grab some food take a seat spend a few minutes to see
take a seat spend a few minutes to see
take a seat spend a few minutes to see if you get anything from here I’d love
if you get anything from here I’d love
if you get anything from here I’d love your feedback at the end so I gave the
your feedback at the end so I gave the
your feedback at the end so I gave the presentation that night and she and
presentation that night and she and
presentation that night and she and everybody was filtering saying hey thank
everybody was filtering saying hey thank
everybody was filtering saying hey thank you when they were leaving and I noticed
you when they were leaving and I noticed
you when they were leaving and I noticed that back corner of my eyes she was
that back corner of my eyes she was
that back corner of my eyes she was still sitting in the chair but I didn’t
still sitting in the chair but I didn’t
still sitting in the chair but I didn’t know because my vision is not very good
know because my vision is not very good
know because my vision is not very good and I didn’t know if she was laughing
and I didn’t know if she was laughing
and I didn’t know if she was laughing crying angry so I was like okay I’m just
crying angry so I was like okay I’m just
crying angry so I was like okay I’m just gonna start packing up my stuff and
gonna start packing up my stuff and
gonna start packing up my stuff and hopefully she got something out of the
hopefully she got something out of the
hopefully she got something out of the night but I saw her coming towards me
night but I saw her coming towards me
night but I saw her coming towards me and I was just I was a little timid and
and I was just I was a little timid and
and I was just I was a little timid and she came up to me and she asked she said
she came up to me and she asked she said
she came up to me and she asked she said excuse me I said yes and she stuck out
excuse me I said yes and she stuck out
excuse me I said yes and she stuck out her hand she said hi my name is Ann and
her hand she said hi my name is Ann and
her hand she said hi my name is Ann and he opened my eyes tonight and I kind of
he opened my eyes tonight and I kind of
he opened my eyes tonight and I kind of got what she was saying I kind of was
got what she was saying I kind of was
got what she was saying I kind of was figuring out and she told me that this
figuring out and she told me that this
figuring out and she told me that this was the first time in 17 years but from
was the first time in 17 years but from
was the first time in 17 years but from being a single mother raising three kids
being a single mother raising three kids
being a single mother raising three kids and not being home for the last four
and not being home for the last four
and not being home for the last four years to read books for her daughter
years to read books for her daughter
years to read books for her daughter before bed or their other siblings that
before bed or their other siblings that
before bed or their other siblings that she was able to look at her daughter’s
she was able to look at her daughter’s
she was able to look at her daughter’s transcripts and realize that she had a
transcripts and realize that she had a
transcripts and realize that she had a 4.6 GPA she was number two out of seven
4.6 GPA she was number two out of seven
4.6 GPA she was number two out of seven hundred ninety-eight kids in her class
hundred ninety-eight kids in her class
hundred ninety-eight kids in her class her score on the practice SAT was in the
her score on the practice SAT was in the
her score on the practice SAT was in the 98th percentile for the first time
98th percentile for the first time
98th percentile for the first time without any preparation and did not
without any preparation and did not
without any preparation and did not realize the opportunity that her
realize the opportunity that her
realize the opportunity that her daughter had sitting right there because
daughter had sitting right there because
daughter had sitting right there because she thought her path was set to send her
she thought her path was set to send her
she thought her path was set to send her into the working force and if you look
into the working force and if you look
into the working force and if you look at that for perspective that’s what’s
at that for perspective that’s what’s
at that for perspective that’s what’s going on with this isn’t even GAAP
going on with this isn’t even GAAP
going on with this isn’t even GAAP there’s a multitude of it other things
there’s a multitude of it other things
there’s a multitude of it other things that we’re looking at but work comes
that we’re looking at but work comes
that we’re looking at but work comes down to right now as it comes down to
down to right now as it comes down to
down to right now as it comes down to our village it comes down to the local
our village it comes down to the local
our village it comes down to the local support it comes down to making change
support it comes down to making change
support it comes down to making change within our village it’s not it’s not
within our village it’s not it’s not
within our village it’s not it’s not looking at a teacher and pointing your
looking at a teacher and pointing your
looking at a teacher and pointing your finger and expecting them to fix the
finger and expecting them to fix the
finger and expecting them to fix the situation even they’re there they are
situation even they’re there they are
situation even they’re there they are working on areas to really improve test
working on areas to really improve test
working on areas to really improve test scores improve the system but it’s about
scores improve the system but it’s about
scores improve the system but it’s about us it’s even if you’re a middle school
us it’s even if you’re a middle school
us it’s even if you’re a middle school student you’re a high school student
student you’re a high school student
student you’re a high school student you’re a parent anyone everyone can make
you’re a parent anyone everyone can make
you’re a parent anyone everyone can make a change you know one of the things that
a change you know one of the things that
a change you know one of the things that I looked at and well in my in my last
I looked at and well in my in my last
I looked at and well in my in my last story that I’ll leave you with I work
story that I’ll leave you with I work
story that I’ll leave you with I work with one of the most beautiful schools
with one of the most beautiful schools
with one of the most beautiful schools that I’ve ever been to it’s in South
that I’ve ever been to it’s in South
that I’ve ever been to it’s in South Central Los Angeles it is has the state
Central Los Angeles it is has the state
Central Los Angeles it is has the state of the art swimming pool the most
of the art swimming pool the most
of the art swimming pool the most amazing track and field system I’ve ever
amazing track and field system I’ve ever
amazing track and field system I’ve ever seen it makes me want to run but I don’t
seen it makes me want to run but I don’t
seen it makes me want to run but I don’t it’s amazing
it’s amazing
it’s amazing the classrooms have the most amazing
the classrooms have the most amazing
the classrooms have the most amazing technology and six years ago it was the
technology and six years ago it was the
technology and six years ago it was the lowest performing High School in
lowest performing High School in
lowest performing High School in California it was ridden by gang
California it was ridden by gang
California it was ridden by gang violence
violence
violence it was so bad the school almost went
it was so bad the school almost went
it was so bad the school almost went back to the state it was atrocious they
back to the state it was atrocious they
back to the state it was atrocious they were getting rid of teachers left and
were getting rid of teachers left and
were getting rid of teachers left and right rehiring trying to get talent on
right rehiring trying to get talent on
right rehiring trying to get talent on campus the enrollment for a school that
campus the enrollment for a school that
campus the enrollment for a school that was built for about 2500 students was
was built for about 2500 students was
was built for about 2500 students was dwindling down to about 900 a thousand
dwindling down to about 900 a thousand
dwindling down to about 900 a thousand students no one wanted to go there so
students no one wanted to go there so
students no one wanted to go there so what happened was they hired a new
what happened was they hired a new
what happened was they hired a new principal and he said my mission is to
principal and he said my mission is to
principal and he said my mission is to help close the gap to figuring out how
help close the gap to figuring out how
help close the gap to figuring out how we can get students here so what he did
we can get students here so what he did
we can get students here so what he did is he started recruiting he picked out
is he started recruiting he picked out
is he started recruiting he picked out the most amazing things that school had
the most amazing things that school had
the most amazing things that school had which were academics and sports and he
which were academics and sports and he
which were academics and sports and he also looked at the
also looked at the
also looked at the the dance because they had a huge dance
the dance because they had a huge dance
the dance because they had a huge dance studio so art and dance and so one of
studio so art and dance and so one of
studio so art and dance and so one of the things he decided to do is he would
the things he decided to do is he would
the things he decided to do is he would take every one of these core groups the
take every one of these core groups the
take every one of these core groups the football team the band the cheerleaders
football team the band the cheerleaders
football team the band the cheerleaders and he would walk take them down once a
and he would walk take them down once a
and he would walk take them down once a year and take them down this huge strip
year and take them down this huge strip
year and take them down this huge strip down the middle of the city to the
down the middle of the city to the
down the middle of the city to the middle school and show them how amazing
middle school and show them how amazing
middle school and show them how amazing high school was how they’ve changed and
high school was how they’ve changed and
high school was how they’ve changed and what happened is over those years more
what happened is over those years more
what happened is over those years more students started applying to get into
students started applying to get into
students started applying to get into that school this is just a small example
that school this is just a small example
that school this is just a small example of how you’re able to close the gap
of how you’re able to close the gap
of how you’re able to close the gap by not putting a lot of money or effort
by not putting a lot of money or effort
by not putting a lot of money or effort in time it’s just bringing a community
in time it’s just bringing a community
in time it’s just bringing a community together I mean when you look at things
together I mean when you look at things
together I mean when you look at things you look at yourself how can I make an
you look at yourself how can I make an
you look at yourself how can I make an impact and the impact is within yourself
impact and the impact is within yourself
impact and the impact is within yourself the impact is getting if you want to
the impact is getting if you want to
the impact is getting if you want to make a big change it’s finding a school
make a big change it’s finding a school
make a big change it’s finding a school a local school within your community and
a local school within your community and
a local school within your community and figuring out what you can do to
figuring out what you can do to
figuring out what you can do to contribute I mean even business owners
contribute I mean even business owners
contribute I mean even business owners now when you look at powerful cities one
now when you look at powerful cities one
now when you look at powerful cities one of the things that the schools do is to
of the things that the schools do is to
of the things that the schools do is to make them unique is well to make them
make them unique is well to make them
make them unique is well to make them less unique it’s a lot of
less unique it’s a lot of
less unique it’s a lot of underperforming schools one of the
underperforming schools one of the
underperforming schools one of the things that they like to do to make to
things that they like to do to make to
things that they like to do to make to solve the situation pretty instantly is
solve the situation pretty instantly is
solve the situation pretty instantly is they’ll get rid of when test scores are
they’ll get rid of when test scores are
they’ll get rid of when test scores are bad they’ll get rid of things like art
bad they’ll get rid of things like art
bad they’ll get rid of things like art drama Spanish and they’ll replace it
drama Spanish and they’ll replace it
drama Spanish and they’ll replace it with things like test prep in order to
with things like test prep in order to
with things like test prep in order to hit the mass means of the students to
hit the mass means of the students to
hit the mass means of the students to get test scores up those district and
get test scores up those district and
get test scores up those district and state mandated tests so they’re able to
state mandated tests so they’re able to
state mandated tests so they’re able to obviously meet the middle but when you
obviously meet the middle but when you
obviously meet the middle but when you look here you look for just a few zip
look here you look for just a few zip
look here you look for just a few zip codes around those affluent schools
codes around those affluent schools
codes around those affluent schools they’re not getting rid of Spanish
they’re not getting rid of Spanish
they’re not getting rid of Spanish they’re adding Mandarin they’re adding
they’re adding Mandarin they’re adding
they’re adding Mandarin they’re adding French to the curriculum that makes them
French to the curriculum that makes them
French to the curriculum that makes them stand out so Ryan ploor with everyone
stand out so Ryan ploor with everyone
stand out so Ryan ploor with everyone here today is it if you really want to
here today is it if you really want to
here today is it if you really want to make an impact schools are the first
make an impact schools are the first
make an impact schools are the first line of defense and we must know that in
line of defense and we must know that in
line of defense and we must know that in terms of ending poverty and in terms of
terms of ending poverty and in terms of
terms of ending poverty and in terms of closing the achievement gap so if
closing the achievement gap so if
closing the achievement gap so if there’s anything you want to do today to
there’s anything you want to do today to
there’s anything you want to do today to help contribute to this society to
help contribute to this society to
help contribute to this society to change the way that people are
change the way that people are
change the way that people are graduating entering the workforce with
graduating entering the workforce with
graduating entering the workforce with higher paid and higher skilled jobs
higher paid and higher skilled jobs
higher paid and higher skilled jobs changing the way that our our world in
changing the way that our our world in
changing the way that our our world in our economy is dealing with education
our economy is dealing with education
our economy is dealing with education know that it’s up to you find that
know that it’s up to you find that
know that it’s up to you find that school bring that community you want to
school bring that community you want to
school bring that community you want to see within that school and you will make
see within that school and you will make
see within that school and you will make a difference because sitting around
a difference because sitting around
a difference because sitting around expecting it to happen and blaming other
expecting it to happen and blaming other
expecting it to happen and blaming other people it’s not gonna be there it’s not
people it’s not gonna be there it’s not
people it’s not gonna be there it’s not the result it’s not the reason so thank
the result it’s not the reason so thank
the result it’s not the reason so thank you
”
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