KIPP SHINE

Here's another comment on my last email from the founder of KIPP SHINE Prep in Houston (I plan to take him up on his offer and visit SHINE when I'm in Houston on Monday afternoon (I'm in town to present my school reform presentation that evening to a sold-out audience of 500+ people)):

 

Hey Whitney,

 

Thank you on behalf of all of the SHINEsters for the shout out in your latest blog.

 

SHINE does serve predominantly English Language Learners and has blown the roof off of state test scores.

 

One other thing to add in response to the Stanford articles (like your dad, I am a Stanford grad) is that it is not an either or .  .  . it is a series of "ands".  Although I respect much of LDH's previous work, this is where her team and others miss the boat.  You do not sacrifice emotional development and character building with a focus on academic achievement.  The two actually go hand in hand.

 

We have shown at SHINE an intentionality at building culture around achievement and character while truly nurturing our children's spirits at the same time. The result is not only children who are fluent English and Spanish readers, writers, and speakers (SHINE is a dual language program), it is also children who do the right thing even when no one is looking and represent themselves in original musical performances and a championship soccer program among many other things.

 

We would love to have you visit some time – next year, we will have seven primary schools in KIPP Houston serving over 3,000 children from ages 3 to 10.

 

Thanks again for all you do on behalf of education reform.

 

SHINE on,

 

Aaron Brenner

Head of Primary Schools - KIPP Houston

Founder - KIPP SHINE Prep