Read the full story at commericalappeal.com>>
Right here in Memphis, we’ve seen that when there is energetic, effective leadership in underperforming schools, amazing things happen for students.
In Memphis, as is the case in many other cities in our country, many kids growing up in low-income communities are not given the educational opportunities they deserve.
But we know it doesn’t have to be that way. Across the country and right here in our city, there are a growing number of schools and classrooms that show us what’s possible — that kids growing up in poverty can succeed, on an absolute scale, when given the right opportunities, support and resources.
The people leading our classrooms, schools and school district are critical to that success. As executives at FedEx, we are steeped in a culture of believing that there is no challenge that is unsolvable if we have talented people who are willing to work hard, and we believe that strengthening our school system requires the same thing. Right here in Memphis, we’ve seen that when there is energetic, effective leadership in underperforming schools, amazing things happen for students.
Throughout Memphis City Schools, there are many dedicated and effective teachers and principals working to forever change the life trajectories of their students. And right now, no other city in the nation has the powerful combination of support from government with Race to the Top funding for Tennessee, a major philanthropic grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the district’s Teacher Effectiveness Initiative, and the presence of three leading nongovernmental organizations with boots already on the ground here and more coming — Teach For America, New Leaders for New Schools and The New Teacher Project.
We see particular hope in the tremendous progress and immediate results we know of firsthand from two organizations on whose local boards we serve: Teach For America and New Leaders for New Schools. Both are built on the same core values of leadership, accountability, access and high expectations. And both are committed partners with Memphis City Schools.
In fall 2011, Teach For America– which recruits and trains top recent college graduates and professionals to teach in high-need schools — will add 175 teachers to the 150 already in Memphis. A recent report from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission showed that Teach For America teachers outperformed the average new teacher across all subject areas and grade levels. Teach For America is an important source of additional talented teachers for Memphis City Schools, working alongside other teachers in the district to ensure that all of our students have access to an excellent education.
New Leaders for New Schools, which recruits and trains new principals and administrators, has had similar success here. There are 37 NLNS principals in Memphis schools this year with plans to increase the number by the 2011-12 school year. These are professionals who have decided to dedicate their professional lives to improving education, sometimes after success in the military, business or as teachers in the classroom. Memphis is one of only 10 cities in the country selected to receive this support.
These two organizations look at extensive data every week, in every school and from every classroom to help guide their teaching and administrative techniques and strategies. They find the things that work and put them into action.
To be successful, a school system, like any thriving corporation, needs effective leaders at every level — as teachers, assistant principals, principals and administrators. Teach For America and New Leaders for New Schools offer additional pipelines of talent to our schools and city; individuals who come to Memphis through these organizations can build on the efforts already under way to ensure that all kids have a chance to realize their dreams.
We as individuals support these organizations with our time and money, and know Memphis gets a sound return on the investment. We urge others in the community to support these agents of innovation as well.
With the region-wide debate on the governance of our school system, we must remain committed to strengthening quality in our classrooms and schools. Memphis, with the distinct heritage of innovation and inventiveness that gave the world rock and roll, self-service supermarkets, hotel chains and overnight shipping, can become a national innovator in public education as well. Let’s make sure we work together to seize this pivotal moment of opportunity for the sake of our children and their future.
Robert B. Carter is executive vice president for information services and chief information officer for FedEx Corporation and a board member for New Leaders for New Schools. Robert J. Quinn is corporate vice president for operations and service support for FedEx Corporation and a board member for Teach For America.
