Green Dot Washington Opens First Public Charter Middle School in Puget Sound

(Future Destiny Middle School Students at Welcome Family Dinner Event)

by Bree Dusseault, Executive Director of Green Dot Public Schools Washington

On August 24, 2015, 200 6th graders will begin their first day at Destiny Middle School in Tacoma, the first Green Dot school in Washington state.

While public charter schools have long been an option in other states, the Washington electorate only approved the authorization of charters in 2012. Through the passing of Initiative Measure 1240, Washingtonians tacitly agreed that “many of our public schools are failing to address inequities in educational opportunities for all students.”

Washington is a state that desperately needs more choices for families and students. In 2013, the state ranked 41st in the nation in high school graduation rates for low-income students. In 2014, state test results in middle school reading, math, and science showed a pronounced gap between low income students and their more affluent peers. There is apparent and consistent inequity in both academic achievement and disciplinary practices across ethnic lines.

Our families and communities demand something better.

Washington is in an enviable position. By being able to look back over 20 years of charter authorization across the country, the state is able to identify and implement the programs and policies that have been proven to work. It’s a special opportunity to be at the forefront of an emerging movement built on proven best practices at the outset.

Group crop

Community Support

Doing this work requires the full support of the community. We recognize that voters have approved the creation of a small number of charter schools and that the charter movement must earn the support of parents and the broader community. We know that families recognize the powerful and positive impact of a high quality public alternative to a traditional public school, and that we will earn their trust by building authentic partnerships and getting so all our students. Only when we’ve proven ourselves can we claim to have earned the trust placed in us by the people of Washington.

Collaboration

We have been working tirelessly to be an open and involved Administrator Team at Destiny Middle Schoolcommunity partner in Tacoma this past year. At Green Dot, we rely heavily on our stakeholders. We know that in order to build a responsive, inclusive and truly accessible school, we cannot do this work alone. Destiny’s doors will open next month thanks to months of deep work with a multitude of community partners and families. I want to especially thank those families who joined us early on, and who visited Green Dot schools in California to see and meet our students, families, and communities and give feedback on our model.

Our founding families and community members have been our earliest supporters in Tacoma. Together, they chose our name Destiny Middle School, to reflect not only the city, but to remind each student that their destiny involves a high quality education that will extend beyond high school.

Last Tuesday, we held our final meeting with our Community Advisory Committee, a diverse group of community members, parents, and students who meet monthly to give input into the design of Destiny Middle School and shape the early decisions of the school. Yesterday, representatives from that committee held a welcoming panel with teachers on their first day of professional development to discuss open lines of communication and building authentic relationships with families. Our collaboration with the Tacoma community will now integrate into daily school operations once the school opens, and we are excited to extend our reach to new communities, including sharing best practices with other districts and charters, to make sure all of our students succeed.

Destiny Middle School will grow into a full 6th-8th grade middle school over the next three years, with our students and staff reflecting the diverse population we serve. Like all of our Green Dot Public Schools, Destiny is publicly-funded and free to attend. Destiny Middle School will share the Green Dot mission of preparing students for college, leadership and life and is open to all students.

Teachers at the Heart of Destiny

Destiny Chart Middle School Professional DevelopmentIn just a few weeks, our inaugural class of students will learn about what makes Green Dot Public Schools unique. But our teachers already know.

This summer, our educators, under the leadership of Principal Genny Cadena, are spending three and a half weeks on professional development learning our values and academic model and building a culture focused on transforming the public education system to prepare all students for college, leadership, and life.

At Green Dot, we hire strong leaders and provide teachers with support, collaboration time, professional development and typically higher pay and benefits, as compared to other surrounding public schools.

We know the effectiveness of a classroom teacher is the single most important school-based factor in student achievement. That’s why we invest in our educators, and why our students and families will notice the highly effective teaching in our classrooms from day one. We have worked with our teachers to create a personalized and reflective culture of learning at Destiny Middle School.

I want to thank our remarkable Destiny staff for signing up for this founding year as we launch the Green Dot team here in Washington. Our teachers are at the heart of our work and impact, and they together with our communities they will set the course of our organization.

The Road Ahead

Next year, Green Dot Washington will open a middle school in South Seattle. We are already laying the groundwork for this new school, and we know the success of Destiny Middle School will help pave the way for our educators in the Seattle community.

I want to thank everyone in Washington state who has supported our work from the outset of this journey and also thank those of you who are a part of our communities in California and Tennessee. You have seen firsthand the success of Green Dot Public Schools over the past 15 years, and we look forward to continuing to share our progress and success in Washington state.

 

Support GDWA

 

You may also like:

4 Comments

  1. Jessica Garcia on July 27, 2015 at 8:03 am

    Spectacular article…Thank you Bree, Genny, Collette, Tracie, & ALL the amazing Green Dot members near & far,who have helped lead the way in making the change we’ve been dreaming of in Tacoma, a reality. Our family has traveled many difficult roads on the educational landscape here in WA…and a new path has been desperately needed for a very long time. We, like many families who have come to you, were truly fearful & dreading the choice in education that was previously before us. Desperately looking for a new path, and now there is one…because of Green Dot, for us, there’s hope again. I thank you for that.



    • FC White on August 27, 2015 at 11:20 am

      You’ll soon learn about the criminal element that runs charter “schools”; but by that point it might be too late for your children. Do you really think that these elitists care about people like you? Please. Wake up and smell the coffee.



  2. FC White on August 27, 2015 at 11:19 am

    “While public charter schools have long been an option in other states, the Washington electorate only approved the authorization of charters in 2012. Through the passing of Initiative Measure 1240, Washingtonians tacitly agreed that ‘many of our public schools are failing to address inequities in educational opportunities for all students.’”

    LOL!

    TRANSLATION: “While privatized businesses deceptively called “schools” have long been ripping off taxpayers and shortchanging public schools in other states, the Washington electorate only approved the authorization of charters by a sliver of a sliver in 2012.

    This billionaire funded deception, which was paid for by people like The Walton (WalMart) Family—who NEVER send their own precious progeny to public schools, but want to control them and profit from them—ended up in a statistical tie, statewide, after the billionaires outspent their opponents by a mere SEVENTEEN TO ONE. (17 TO 1) and yet they claim that there was some sort of “public demand” for these vile, odious taxpayer ripoffs that take advantage of society’s most indigent and disadvantaged.

    Through the imposition of Initiative Measure 1240—created by spending a record amount of money on PAID signature gatherers AND a plethora of nonstop, mendacious TV ads, Washingtonians, who would have CRUSHED this disgusting ripoff had they known about the truly sick “Trigger Provision” in this soon to be unconstitutional ballot measure, were lied to 24/7 through the biggest ad buy in our state’s political history.

    But even then, the BEST that the Privatizers could do, with a 17 to 1 advantage was a statewide TIE. But that doesn’t stop the shameful elitists who are lusting to be the next Michelle Rhee or Campbell Brown and fill their bank accounts with our hard earned tax dollars, all the while spewing the BIG LIE that ‘many of our public schools are failing to address inequities in educational opportunities for all students.’”

    Go back east and shine the shoes of Chris Christie, Andrew Cuomo, Cory Booker and the other dirtbags who love people like you. We Washingtonians DON’T want you and your fellow anti-public school shills here. Understand?

    [This post has been modified by Green Dot Public Schools due to inappropriate language.]



    • J.Garcia on September 8, 2015 at 8:07 pm

      Just a bit of background on why this is
      such an important choice for my family…this is hard to write about, so please
      bare with me…

      During our eldest autistic child’s schooling years, beginning in the 4th
      grade & continuing on through to middle school, he was bullied
      relentlessly…years of it. To the point of culminating with a busted nose,
      broken teeth, glasses, and a fractured cheekbone…resulting in suicidal
      thoughts, failing grades, & leaving a scar on our entire family.

      I had asked the local school district for help
      many times over this time period…nothing came of it. Even took a job in the
      school to try & help on that front…again nothing. Tried to get him placed
      in other schools throughout our district…was told there was no room. This
      left us having to sign over educational guardianship to my mother in Puyallup,
      just so he had a safe place to learn…Imagine having to make this decision.

      We looked into private school…but private
      schools do not take children with special needs if they require services.
      Homeschool was not an option at the time…so there was our choice. Forced out
      of our existing district.

      So when the time came for our daughter to attend
      middle school, of course I wanted a different option. Our family still carries
      these scars of what our son went through…he does as well mentally and
      physically.

      Honestly, this is the first time I haven’t been
      full of anxiety when my child goes to school for the day. I feel hopeful for
      her school experience…that she will be safe & have a quality education I
      feel she deserves. You can’t put a price on hope.

      Please understand, that I have had many a great
      teacher in our lives, absolutely. I want all public school children to have a
      safe place to learn…but more importantly to have a choice in their education.
      Public school children should have the right to choose options…same as those
      who may be better off & have the freedom to choose without
      restrictions…that’s all that is desired here. The right to have choice.

      Some
      children do better in a traditional public school setting, some in home school,
      some in private, others in online schooling…and yes, some do better in public charters.

      Thank you for reading