Book Review: Miracle on Southwest Boulevard

One of the speakers I had the pleasure of hearing last week was the author of this book, Cindi Hemm.  Mrs. Hemm is getting ready to retire from a long career as an educator and administrator in Tulsa Public Schools.  In 2003 she was assigned to move from a school with students from largely white, middle class homes to a high poverty, high minority school in north Tulsa.  This book chronicles her journey over the last nine years.  She very openly discusses how she called on God to help her be successful in turning the school around.  Her faith and strength are inspiring.

From an educational perspective it's also inspiring.  A couple of years ago I had the privilege of hearing US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, speak at the National Title I Conference.  It was really the launching point of the President's re-authorization of NCLB, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  In that speech, Secretary Duncan talked about the administration's vision for Community Schools.  For me personally it was exactly what I think education has to be to be successful.  The goal of community schools is to not only provide high quality education to high poverty students, but also to provide support and education to the adults in those students' lives.  This book is about how one school in Tulsa has become a Community School and what an amazing place it has become!

In several places throughout the book Mrs. Hemm talks about how community organizations and churches provided most of her support as she reformed her elementary school.  I encourage you to look for similar opportunities.  In every school there are children who would benefit from a mentor or programs to which you could contribute your time and talents.  You don't have to leave the country or go to a major urban area to serve, there are schools and children in your own back yard!

I am just beginning to study and learn about generational poverty, but from what I've already learned and studied, I believe that understanding and working to change patterns of generational poverty is the key to improving our educational system.  Educational leadership expert Bill Daggett said in a speech last week that America has the best education system because we educate everyone.  Other countries have specific requirements for who can attend schools and in some cases cultures dictate which children are worthy to receive an education.  We don't do that here.  Every child is entitled to an education.  There are all manor of reasons why children learn differently, but one substantial roadblock for many students is poverty.

The findings of the Hart and Risley study demonstrate the impact that poverty has on oral language development of children and subsequently their reading development.  The Matthew Effect, based in the research of psychologist Keith Stanovich, refers to the fact that when it comes to reading and writing...the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.  Not monetarily speaking, but in language and reading development.  Those who fail at reading early, or who have negative experiences with books early in life, are reluctant and struggling readers who refuse to read as they get older.  The more you read, the better you get...the rich get richer.  The less you read the more difficult it becomes....the poor get poorer.  Often the students that fail at reading early, fail due to issues related to poverty.

It is my opinion that to truly revolutionize education, to ensure that our schools produce students that are college, career and citizen ready in a globally competitive world, we have to improve education for all of our students, including those in generational poverty.  The Community Schools format discussed in this book is one way to approach school improvement.  There are certainly other ways to do so, but it starts with administrators like Cindi Hemm.

It takes a principal who is not afraid to do what's right for kids even if it prohibits them from being friends with their staff.  It takes a principal who will work long hours going above and beyond for their students.  It takes a principal who has a vision of academic excellence.  In my experience these kinds of principals are the minority.  It was refreshing and inspiring to read a story that confirmed my beliefs, taught me more about school reform and left me wanting to know more.  I definitely recommend this book!