A great story and 2-min video: http://lightbox.time.com/2011/09/19/college-bound-allison-payne-documents-how-one-school-gets-100-of-its-students-into-college/#ixzz1ksrWeeEk

College Bound: Teacher-Turned-Photographer Returns to Document School's Success

The North Star Academy in Newark, New Jersey so firmly preaches the inspirational catchphrase "follow your dreams" to its students that even the teachers find it infectious. One teacher, Allison Payne, who had taught at the school for four years, found the message so compelling that she was inspired to leave education to pursue her long-held dream of being a photographer. She quit her job, attended the International Center for Photography in New York City and returned to the school as a photography student to complete this six month-long documentary project.

"North Star changes the lives of everyone who is a part it, not just the students," Payne said. "It teaches you to be relentless in pursuit of your dreams. You start to realize that anything is possible if you are just willing to work hard enough.