 {"id":499,"date":"2014-05-27T16:55:33","date_gmt":"2014-05-27T16:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.rsed.org\/?p=499"},"modified":"2017-12-17T05:27:29","modified_gmt":"2017-12-17T05:27:29","slug":"richard-whitmire-on-rocketship-parent-advocates-and-a-movement-towards-equity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/en\/latest-news\/blog\/richard-whitmire-on-rocketship-parent-advocates-and-a-movement-towards-equity\/","title":{"rendered":"Richard Whitmire on Rocketship, Parent Advocates and a Movement Towards Equity"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"drop-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<p>Longtime education reporter Richard Whitmire approached our co-founders Preston Smith and John Danner in 2012 to request completely open access to follow our work for twelve months. Without any editorial oversight, we agreed. As a result, he gained insight in to our schools, our approach to innovation and witnessed the launch of our first region outside of California: Milwaukee.<br \/>\n<!--more--><br \/>\nWhile Rocketship\u2019s mission to eliminate the achievement gap in our lifetime is simple, our work to open high-performing schools in underserved communities is complex. <em>On the Rocketship: How Top Charter Schools are Pushing the Envelope\u00a0<\/em>captures the nuance of our work at Rocketship and across the country, and we\u2019re excited for Whitmire\u2019s candid and well-written perspective to hit bookshelves in June. In anticipation for his book release, I had an opportunity to reflect on his time with us over the past two years.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>KB:<\/strong><\/span> You\u2019ve written about a range of issues in education. What was the impetus for writing about Rocketship?<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\">RW:<\/span> <\/strong>I wrote a book about Michelle Rhee\u2019s time in D.C. (<a href=\"http:\/\/richardwhitmire.com\/thebeeeater\/\"><em>The Bee Eater<\/em><\/a>) with this in mind: If Rhee can\u2019t turn around the relatively small D.C. district with the enormous resources at her disposal, what hope is there for other troubled urban districts? When the political backlash forced her from office, I decided it was time to look beyond traditional urban school reform.<\/p>\n<p>So I asked the question: What could high performing charters do? Could they grow enough to make a difference? That\u2019s why I chose Rocketship. Its growth plans at that time were incredibly ambitious. Could they pull it off?<a href=\"http:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/intheend.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-505\" src=\"http:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/intheend.png?w=640\" alt=\"In the end, all that will matter is who can create great schools. The rest is just political noise.&quot;\" width=\"640\" height=\"183\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/intheend.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/intheend-300x86.png 300w, https:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/intheend-768x221.png 768w, https:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/intheend-1024x294.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>KB: <\/strong><\/span>What did you learn about Rocketship that surprised you the most?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>RW: <\/strong><\/span>That educational technology was such a small player in its success. Blended learning is an important ingredient, but I would rank it far below Rocketship\u2019s boldness \u2013 the willingness to come up with new ways of opening schools, and succeeding the very first year, on California\u2019s skimpy per-pupil payments.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest surprise was the prominent role that parent activism played, both at the school level and beyond, with parents playing such key roles in achieving political wins. Many charters would prefer that parents play minimal roles. Rocketship is different.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>KB: <\/strong><\/span>From your perspective, what are the biggest opportunities with blended learning? What are the biggest challenges?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>RW: <\/strong><\/span>I observed what every Rocketship teacher already knows: math programs work a lot better than reading programs. And I also observed that lapse in classroom culture when moving from the classroom to Learning Labs. Culture is everything to high- performing charters.<\/p>\n<p>Rocketship tried to correct that during the year I was observing \u2013 maybe a little too fast. That\u2019s how startups execute change, at warp speed. But schools serving low income kids can\u2019t handle the turbulence and recover as easily as tech startups.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>KB: <\/strong><\/span>You dedicate your book to the \u201cTrue disruptors: Rocketship parents pressing for better middle schools and high schools.\u201d What stands out about these parents?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>RW: <\/strong><\/span>I was fascinated by the process that discovered a potential leader such as Karen Martinez. I recall the first time I saw her speak on a parent panel. After she spoke everyone looked at one another and asked, \u2018Who was that?\u2019 Karen is one of many parent leaders who surfaced from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.pactsj.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PACT<\/a>\/Rocketship efforts.<\/p>\n<p>At this point in time, we have no idea whether the academic gains arising from Rocketship schools persist through traditional middle schools, but if parent leaders can form high performing charter middle schools, and then high schools, your work will be more than justified.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>KB: <\/strong><\/span>What do you see as the greatest differentiator between public schools and public charter schools?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>RW: <\/strong><\/span>I thought Duncan Klussmann, the superintendent of schools in Spring Branch (part of Houston), Texas, put it best. When he visited nearby KIPP and YES Prep schools he concluded that he wanted to import two charter strengths: culture and urgency. That\u2019s what I find missing in most traditional urban schools.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s interesting about Klussmann, who runs Spring Branch schools, is that he figured out a way to form a compact with those two charters that allows those strengths to seep into his schools. In return, he offers the charter students something they rarely get: a rich selection of elective courses.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unionsandsupers.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-506\" src=\"http:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unionsandsupers.png?w=640\" alt=\"&quot;I see unions and superintendents coming up with effective ways to postpone change, but in the end, unless they focus on creating great schools, all they can win are postponements. I don\u2019t see parents easily giving up any choice powers they have been handed. And that power, in the end, will reshape schools.&quot;\" width=\"640\" height=\"271\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unionsandsupers.png 4117w, https:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unionsandsupers-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unionsandsupers-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unionsandsupers-1024x434.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>KB: <\/strong><\/span>What do you think is the biggest misconception about Rocketship? How about public charter schools in general?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>RW: <\/strong><\/span>The biggest misconception is about blended learning. I interviewed a union official in Milwaukee, one tasked with fighting Rocketship\u2019s expansion into that city, who informed me that blended learning \u201cde-skilled\u201d teachers. I had never heard that term before; it still makes me laugh. Rocketship works for the same reasons other top charters work \u2013 intelligent, highly motivated teachers who embrace the culture\/urgency message.<\/p>\n<p>The other misconception, of course, is that charter schools are not public schools, or that they are out to \u201cprivatize\u201d American public education. The \u201cpushback\u201d movement led by Diane Ravitch has been extraordinarily effective in getting that message out and making people believe it. But in the end, all that will matter is who can create great schools. The rest is just political noise.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>KB: <\/strong><\/span>You talk a lot about Fibonacci schools in your book. Can you describe what they are?<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\">RW:<\/span> <\/strong>John Danner used that term during our first interview to describe his plans for rapid expansion. Not being much of a math person, I didn\u2019t even know what it meant. But I embraced it as a term that means rapid expansion without losing quality. When it comes to charters, that\u2019s a difficult feat to accomplish. Most charter school groups run into what might be politely called a \u201clearning year\u201d that sets them back. The best ones learn from their setbacks and figure out a way to keep expanding. I think Rocketship will fall into that category.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>KB: <\/strong><\/span>Can you talk more about what you learned about teacher and school leader development? How critical is this to Fibonacci schools and what did you learn about this area from Rocketship?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>RW: <\/strong><\/span>Rocketship is as dependent on developing top teachers and leaders as other top charters \u00ad\u00ad\u2013 maybe even more so at Rocketship, because you are smaller than some of the others. Rocketship goes to places such as Nashville and Dallas when it has a great school leader wanting to move there. Organizations such as KIPP, at least in DC, seem to have developed a deeper leadership bench. KIPP is held back by facilities, at least in DC. Rocketship seems to have gotten ahead of the learning curve on facilities.<\/p>\n<p>As far as teachers, I know the original plan was to retain the Teach for America hires far longer than other charters. Your current rate is only slightly longer. I\u2019m not sure that retention time is much of an indicator of anything, however. The question everyone is asking is: Does it really matter if our teachers stay on average for only 3.5 years? Maybe, maybe not.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>KB: <\/strong><\/span>Where in the country do you see the strongest movements toward educational equity?<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\">RW:<\/span> <\/strong>I like what I see going on in Memphis with the Achievement School District. Everyone is hesitant to draw lessons from New Orleans (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/2013\/09\/20\/post-katrina-great-new-orleans-charter-tryout-237968.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">can you really count on a Katrina?<\/a>), but Memphis is a place where some charters are taking over entire schools in restarts. In the book, I profile Aspire taking over Hanley Elementary. Plus, they have aggressively developed some high quality local charters, which greatly dampens the emotions we see in Newark about \u201coutsiders\u201d coming in. I know Rocketship is looking at a restart in Nashville. That\u2019s impressive.<\/p>\n<p>But from a broader perspective, I\u2019m most optimistic about the model I profile in Spring Branch, where a superintendent was able to slide some top performing charters into existing schools with a great deal of cooperation. This approach minimizes the negative politics and maximizes the benefits for both the traditional schools and charters. Everyone comes out a winner. To me, this model holds the best promise for rapidly expanding the reach of top charters.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_509\" style=\"width: 211px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wiley.com\/WileyCDA\/WileyTitle\/productCd-1118607643,descCd-buy.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-509\" class=\"wp-image-509 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/ontherocketship.jpg?w=201\" alt=\"On the Rocketship\" width=\"201\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/ontherocketship.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/ontherocketship-202x300.jpg 202w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-509\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">&#8220;On the Rocketship: How Top Charter Schools are Pushing the Envelope&#8221; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wiley.com\/WileyCDA\/WileyTitle\/productCd-1118607643,descCd-buy.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hits bookshelves<\/a> in June 2014.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>KB: <\/strong><\/span>What role \u2014 if any \u2014 can public education play in effectively combating poverty?<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\">RW:<\/span> <\/strong>I think it\u2019s fair to say that even great charters can\u2019t overcome the impacts of severe poverty. But they can make a difference. We need new ways to measure those differences. We should set aside test scores and instead settle on more practical achievements, such as doubling the number of students who get placed into community college classes without having to take remedial courses. And then measure graduation rates from those same community colleges. You could do the same with professional certificates and four-year colleges.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">KB:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Looking at the current education landscape, what\u2019s most exciting to you?<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\">RW:<\/span> <\/strong>I like how parents are mostly ignoring the caustic education debates. When you offer parents choice \u2013 and high-performing schools \u2013 they seek them out. The wait lists are proof of that. I see unions and superintendents coming up with effective ways to postpone change, but in the end, unless they focus on creating great schools, all they can win are postponements. I don\u2019t see parents easily giving up any choice powers they have been handed. And that power, in the end, will reshape schools.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>KB: <\/strong><\/span>What do you hope your readers will take away from your newest book?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>RW: <\/strong><\/span>That it is possible \u2013 despite all the challenges and setbacks \u2013 to create great schools. And that there are ways that top charters can become major players in education.<\/p>\n<p><em>Learn More about Richard Whitmire and On the Rocketship: <\/em><em><a title=\"richardwhitmire.com\" href=\"http:\/\/richardwhitmire.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">richardwhitmire.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/richardwhitmir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Follow Richard on Twitter: @richardwhitmir<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>Kevin works on the Rocketship Network Support Team and is the Editor of Beyond. He is a former Special Education teacher in San Jose, with experience\u00a0teaching in both traditional public and Rocketship schools. He earned\u00a0a BA in Journalism and Digital Arts from the University of Oregon. A current\u00a0Bay Area resident, Kevin is passionate about education, story-telling\u00a0and creative exploration.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Longtime education reporter Richard Whitmire approached our co-founders Preston Smith and John Danner in 2012 to request completely open access to follow our work for twelve months. Without any editorial oversight, we agreed. As a result, he gained insight in to our schools, our approach to innovation and witnessed the launch of our first region&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":501,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[63,271],"tags":[68,100,41,56,26,61,35,77,78,42,69,50,27,43,101,32,33,102,44,23,58],"table_tags":[],"tips_for_teachers":[],"class_list":["post-499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education-reform","category-most-popular-stories","tag-blended-learning","tag-book","tag-community-leaders","tag-education","tag-engaged-parents","tag-equity","tag-excellent-teachers","tag-full-speed-ahead","tag-growth","tag-impact","tag-innovation","tag-kevin-bronk","tag-nest-voice","tag-never-give-up","tag-on-the-rocketship","tag-parents","tag-personalized-learning","tag-richard-whitmire","tag-success","tag-teachers","tag-world-class"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Richard Whitmire on Rocketship, Parent Advocates and a Movement Towards Equity<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rocketshipschools.org\/en\/latest-news\/blog\/richard-whitmire-on-rocketship-parent-advocates-and-a-movement-towards-equity\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Richard Whitmire on Rocketship, Parent Advocates and a Movement Towards Equity\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Longtime education reporter Richard Whitmire approached our co-founders Preston Smith and John Danner in 2012 to request completely open access to follow our work for twelve months. 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