In 2002, the New York City school system launched a large-scale high school reform strategy aimed at raising dismal graduation rates and increasing the number of quality educational options for young people. As one element of the reform, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel Klein committed to create 200 new small schools in five years, while closing historically underperforming schools. The reform plan required clear focus, political will, and partnerships with community-based and citywide organizations. Deciding to visit New York was easy: the city has a focused plan for high school reform and is part of the New Century High School Initiative, a groundbreaking program to transform high schools funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Open Society Institute.
During this trip, we met with district and state reform leaders, including Chancellor of New York City Schools Joel Klein and New York Commissioner of Education Richard Mills. These meetings providde time to delve more deeply into the strategies and policies used to support high school redesign. We also met with students, teachers, and school leaders to hear about their on-the-ground experiences with district and state reform efforts. Meetings and site visits will help provide context to the invaluable discussions and peer learning opportunities throughout the trip. In addition to engaging in substantive policy discussions, the trip allowed participants to see a range of secondary options that represent the district’s approach to high school redesign.
Contact Information
Ilene Berman
Program Director
Center for Best Practices
National Governors Association
444 North Capitol Street, Suite 267
Washington, DC 20001-5012
202-624-5378
iberman@nga.org
Iris Bond Gill
Senior Program Associate
American Youth Policy Forum
1836 Jefferson Place, NW
Washington, DC 20036
202 775-9731
ibgill@aypf.org
Betsy Brand
Director
American Youth Policy Forum
1836 Jefferson Place, NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-775-9731
bbrand@aypf.org
Darlene Morgan Brown
Director for Charter Schools Initiative
University of New Orleans
2000 Lakeshore Drive
New Orleans, LA 70148
Business: 504-280-6253
dmorgan@uno.edu
Marcie Brown
Education Policy Director
Office of Governor Mitch Daniels
Statehouse
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2797
317-232-4567
mabrown@gov.in.gov
Yvonne Caamal Canul
Director
Office of School Improvement
Michigan Department of Education
608 West Allegan
Lansing, MI 48933
517-241-3147
CanulY@michigan.gov
Sue Carnell
Education Policy Advisor
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
111 South Capitol Avenue
PO Box 30013
Lansing, MI 48909
517-373-4083
carnells@michigan.gov
Irma Clark-Coleman
State Senator
Michigan State Senate
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
517-373-0990
seniclark-coleman@senate.michigan.gov
Judi Coffield
Education Associate
Secondary Schools
Delaware Department of Education
Townsend Building
401 Federal Street, Suite 2
Dover, DE 19901-3639
302-735-4000
jcoffield@doe.k12.de.us
Denise Delorey
Education Specialist
Massachusetts Department of Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148
781-338-3113
ddelorey@doe.mass.edu
Nyal Fuentes
Massachusetts Department of Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023
781-338-3593
nfuentes@doe.mass.edu
Susan Haberstroh
Special Assistant to the Secretary
Office of the Secretary of Education
Delaware Department of Education
Townsend Building
401 Federal Street, Suite 2
Dover, DE 19901-3639
302-739-4652
shaberstroh@doe.k12.de.us
Jane Kendrick
Director, Small High School Transformation
and American Diploma Project Leadership Team
Indianapolis Public Schools
801 N. Carrollton Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3430
317-226-4122
kendricj@ips.k12.in.us
Sunny Kristin
Policy Specialist, Education Programs
National Conference of State Legislatures
7700 E. First Place
Denver, CO 80230-7143
303-364-7700
sunny.kristin@ncsl.org
Eve Laubner
District Intervention Specialist
School & District Intervention Office
Massachusetts Department of Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023
781-338-3113
elaubner@doe.mass.edu
Sandra Licon
Associate Policy Officer
Education Advocacy
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
1755 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
202-662-8175
Edwin Murray
State Senator
Louisiana State Senator
1540 North Broad Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
504-942-8370
emurray@legis.state.la.us
Donna Nola-Ganey
Assistant Superintendent of Education
Louisiana Department of Education
P.O. Box 94064
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064
225-342-3900
donna.ganey@la.gov
Gregory Porter
State Representative
3614 N. Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis, IN 46205-3436
317-221-2146
gporter@hhcorp.org
Suellen Reed
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Indiana Department of Education
200 West Washington Street, Room 229
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-6665
sreed@doe.state.in.us
Barbara Rutt
State Board Member
Delaware State Board of Education
1001 Pecan Avenue
Milford, DE 19963
302-739-4603
barbararutt@yahoo.com
Ana Sol Gutierrez
State Delegate
Maryland House of Representatives
219 Lowe House Office Builiding
Annapolis, MD 21401-1991
301-652-4042
ana_gutierrez@house.state.md.us
David Wakelyn
Senior Policy Analyst
Education Division, Center for Best Practices
National Governors Association
444 North Capitol Street, Suite 267
Washington, DC 20001-1512
202-624-5352
dwakelyn@nga.org
