Amanda Gardner – UP Academy Charter School

Principal Statement:

The founding members of Unlocking Potential are thrilled to launch the organization’s first school in the 2011-2012 school year!  UP Academy will function as an in-district charter school—the first of its kind within Boston Public Schools.  We are excited to join BPS as we work to ensure that all students in Boston receive an excellent education.  UP Academy aims to serve all of the rising 7^th and 8^th grade students currently enrolled at the Gavin Middle School and an incoming 6^th grade cohort of students which mirrors the demographics of the Gavin and other Boston Public Schools.  The mission of UP Academy Charter School of Boston is to ensure that students acquire the knowledge, skills, and strength of character necessary to succeed on the path to college and to achieve their full potential.

What is most exciting about UP Academy is that it is a school built with best practices in mind.  By building on the lessons learned by the most effective urban schools across the country, the staff of UP Academy will create significant gains in student achievement.  UP Academy will have expanded learning time to ensure that students have explicit, rigorous, standards-driven instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, history, and science.  Students will participate in art, physical education, health, music, and athletic course offerings.  Seamless routines based on high expectations for student behavior will ensure that students are focused during academic classes and master daily objectives.  Nightly homework will ensure that students practice the new skills they are taught each academic day.  Daily study hall, tutoring time, and robust services for students who require extra support will ensure that UP Academy is successful in making impressive gains with a diverse group of students.  Perhaps most importantly, a school culture of enthusiasm and joy will ensure that students have fun while learning and are active participants in their educational experiences. 

Over the course of each academic year, teachers will grow as professionals.  Teachers will meet during the month of August to create comprehensive action plans for the school year.  Once the year begins, Friday afternoons will be dedicated to providing content-area, grade level, and schoolwide professional development.  A culture of collaboration, critical dialogue, and reflection will encourage our teachers to improve their practices to ensure all students are academically successful.

Principal Bio:

Before coming to UP Academy Amanda was the Founding Principal of Boston Preparatory Charter Public School and had worked there since the school’s founding year.  In her years at BPCPS, she learned that creating a culture focused on the mission of the school and ensuring that all stakeholders are invested in the mission are integral parts of ensuring a school’s success.  Before joining the team at BPCPS, she completed an administrative internship at the Philbrick Elementary School in Boston and, prior to that, worked as a Teach For America corps member in South Louisiana.   The opportunity to be the instructional leader of a turnaround school in Boston is an incredible opportunity for her;  she looks forward to finding innovative ways to improve the achievement of students at UP—and across Boston Public Schools.

Jose Duarte – Dearborn Middle School

Principal Statement:

The staff at the Dearborn Middle School are devoted to creating strong academic programs and maintaining a safe and nurturing learning environment for our students.  In addition to academic classes, each student receives targeted academic enrichment and participates in an activity of their choice.  Student resources include SES tutoring, Exam School test prep, and Stepping Stone Academy.  Special programs including a partnership with the Museum of Science, a community service curriculum, and an eighth grade trip to Washington D.C. ensure that learning is not confined to the classroom.  With an extended school day, numerous student support services and an emphasis on school-wide results, the Dearborn aims to put every student on the path to achievement.

Principal Bio:

Justin Vernon - Roger Clap Innovation School

Principal Statement:

The mission of the Roger Clap Innovation School is to ensure that every student, regardless of his/her socio-economic, linguistic and academic history is educated to the highest level through a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum.  Furthermore, the Roger Clap Innovation School will educate students to become knowledgeable of, civically engaged in, and involved in the service of their school, the local community, and the global community while being at the forefront of educational innovations and preparing its students for the demands of tomorrow’s world.  The staff at Roger Clap Innovation School will meet these goals by utilizing 30 additional minutes of instruction time every day and 50 additional hours of professional development time throughout the year.  Data-based inquiry will drive instruction and all teachers will have the opportunity to create new and innovative curriculum for the benefit of their students.

Principal Bio:

Justin Vernon served as the Principal at the Farragut Elementary School and at the Edwards Middle School.  Prior to those positions, Mr. Vernon was the Assistant Principal at the Edison Middle School and a Principal Intern at the Harbor School.  Before entering into school administration, he taught Math, Science, and exploratory Spanish in both Gaston, North Carolina and Denver, Colorado.  Mr. Vernon holds a bachelor¹s degree in Environmental Science from Allegheny College and a master¹s degree in school administration from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. During the 2008-2009 school year, Mr. Vernon completed the district¹s Instructional Leadership Institute course.

Cynthia Paris Jeffries– Blackstone Elementary School

Principal Statement:

My inspiration to become a school leader came after the birth of my daughter Mia in 2003. Through motherhood  I found solidarity with the lifelong struggle of parents to create a better world for our children. When making decisions that impact student learning I ask myself,  “is this good enough for my own daughter?” If the answer is no, then I work hard with integrity and humanity to turn the answer into a yes for every child.  Transforming as school does not come without challenges    The opportunity to work at the Blackstone with a talented, passionate and committed faculty is the winning combination necessary to transform our school.   Our vision is to provide a dynamic, rigorous and fun education for every student each day.   

Principal Bio:

Cynthia began her urban teaching and learning career in the Boston Public Schools 1996. Cynthia serves as the Principal of the Blackstone Elementary where she leads bold efforts to transform the schools chronically underperforming status. Prior to that, Cynthia served as the Principal of the Curtis Guild Elementary where she successfully led data-driven improvement efforts that increased student achievement. Cynthia earned a Master’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from MGH Institute of Health Professions and Mater’s in school administration from University Of Massachusetts, Boston.

Andrew Bott – Orchard Gardens

Principal Statement:

I have never been so excited to be a part of Boston Public Schools as I am now. Opening only seven years ago, Orchard Gardens has struggled from the very beginning. While the student mobility rate is low, approximately fifty percent of the school staff turns over each year. Additionally, there is extremely high turnover in school administration – I will be the sixth principal in eight years. Because of this, the students and families at Orchard Gardens have never had the consistency and focused school vision that are necessary for both students and a school to thrive. As a result, the failure rate on the MCAS exam is one of the highest not only in Boston Public Schools but also across the Commonwealth. Through the time I have spent in the school, I also know that the students are like all students in Boston -- truly amazing. Despite the continual turnover, the hallways are quiet and common spaces are calm. Orchard Gardens also has the most impressive school facility in Boston. While this will be hard work, I firmly believe that the turnaround at Orchard Gardens will be both fast and significant. This will take the dedication of an experienced teaching staff willing to come together to lead this work. In just a few short years, we will become one of the highest performing schools in Boston Public Schools.

I have had many professional experiences that I believe will serve me well at Orchard Gardens. Prior to coming to Boston, I taught bilingual Spanish 5th and 6th grade classes in the Houston Independent School District. In Boston I completed a one year principal training program at the Hernandez K-8 School and have spent the past ten years working in Boston. I have served as the principal of both the Mather Elementary School and the Rogers Middle School.

I believe the key to success is a common vision, embraced by the entire professional staff of a school. With this common vision, I believe teacher leadership and professional flexibility are the keys to success. As teams, teachers must have the flexibility to make professional decisions about curriculum, lesson planning, assessment analysis, student support, and intervention services in order to truly turn around student performance. Most importantly, however, I believe that a successful staff must have fun working together and be willing to support one another through all aspects of this challenging work.

Principal Bio:

Andrew Bott became principal of Orchard Gardens K-8 in 2010. He served as principal of the Rogers Middle School from 2006-2010, where he increased student achievement through initiatives such as Grade 8 Algebra. Prior to that, he served as principal of the Mather Elementary School for several years. Mr. Bott has been with BPS since 1999, serving as an Administrative Intern at the Rafael Hernandez School and then as assistant principal at the Charles Sumner School. Prior to coming to the BPS, he taught bilingual education with the Houston Independent School District. Mr. Bott received his Master's Degree in Education from Harvard and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from Rice University.

Mairead Nolan – Trotter Elementary School

Principal Statement:

Vision for the Trotter School

The vision of the Trotter School is to create a learning community where students, families, educators and the community work together to develop, ensure and inspire the social-emotional growth and academic excellence of all of our students. We will continue creating a peaceful school climate where we treat one another with kindness and respect.

I have never been more excited be a principal in the Boston Public Schools! Being named a Turnaround School will provide us with the opportunities and flexibilities to create a school of excellence.

As a principal of both the Joyce Kilmer K-8 School and the William M. Trotter School, I have supported teachers in creating high-performing collaborative teams that increased student performance and worked with parents to build a strong welcoming community. I also served for four years as Director of Instruction for the Rafael Hernandez Two-Way Bilingual School and taught for seven years in the Washington, D.C. Public Schools and in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

I believe that the primary role of the principal is to serve as an instructional leader. The principal must also create the conditions that enable highly effective teaching and learning to occur, including creating a school of joy.

I am looking forward to continuing to work with deeply committed teachers who form relationships with students and families, who believe fully that students can be proficient learners and who bring a sense of humor and hope to this challenging and wonderful work.

Principal Bio:

Mairead Nolan of Jamaica Plain has served as principal of the Trotter since 2008. Prior to that, she was the principal of the Joyce Kilmer K-8 School for six years, where she supported teachers in creating high-performing collaborative teams that increased student performance and worked with parents to build a strong welcoming community. Previously, Ms. Nolan served for four years as Director of Instruction for the Rafael Hernandez Two-Way Bilingual School. She taught for seven years in the Washington, D.C. Public Schools and in the Republic of the Marshal Islands. She earned a Bachelor's degree from The Catholic University of America and a Master's degree from Harvard's Graduate School of Education.