Rich expertise on achievement
Author: School Administrator

When we started our editorial planning on the subject of minority student achievement, we moved expeditiously to solicit the informative perspectives of Gerry House, Rosa Smith and Rossi Ray-Taylor for this month's issue. It's a no-brainer to invite such educators who've spent much of their successful working lives leading elementary and secondary schools in culturally diverse communities.

House, Smith and Ray-Taylor, former superintendents all (a sad commentary in itself), today run not-for-profit organizations whose missions relate directly to bettering the educational experiences of those youth who've landed on the downside of the learning gap. These three are trying to influence the thinking and actions of school leaders through expert professional development, coaching and support, in words of House's organization, to "sustain a structure and environment conducive to student success."

I invite you to learn more about the dynamic campaigns that House, Smith and Ray-Taylor lead by visiting their respective websites: www.studentachievement.org, www.schottfoundation.org and www.msanetwork.org.

Please also look at William Parrett's description (page 26) of an elementary school in Idaho serving mostly Native American students that has reversed a history of underachievement and low performance. The Education Trust honored Lapwai Elementary with a Dispelling the Myth Award in November for proving that poor and minority children can learn at high levels.