Statement on LoveWorks Academy for the Arts

"A charter school must prioritize the education and growth of its students, ensuring every decision made serves their learning journey, not the convenience or comfort of the adults."

-Don Allen, Ed.S., M.A. Ed., MAT (Doctoral Candidate)

     On June 4, 2024, the LoveWorks board of directors voted not to renew my contract. 

     This vote was not based on performance. My experiences at LoveWorks Academy were invaluable. I confirmed (again) that there was nothing wrong with our African-American children in grades K-8 in the Twin Cities; they can construct knowledge if given the opportunity. I worked diligently against a culture within a learning organization workgroup with family ties between board members and staff where mediocrity concerning teaching and learning was acceptable. The school is a half-million in debt and shortly will be in statutory operating debt. In one calendar year, the LoveWorks board of directors has not renewed any of their three school directors' contracts. The school is not student-centered; it’s adult-centered and governed by a few community members who do not understand what it means to educate young Black boys and girls. The challenge with LoveWorks Academy is stronger than racism, bigger than white supremacy, and is a nesting ground for the pipeline to prison, with 94% of the third-grade class in the 0-10 percentile - and no student at grade-level in math, science, or reading in for more than seven years trending (MCA); I wanted to change those dynamics for our babies, the charter school board did not; success frightened them, the school has been fine with board governance sabotage and substitutions. My organizational communication and culture change for LoveWorks Academy for the Arts was too revolutionary and too educational and would have changed the school culture and physical plant into a learning environment. The authorizer must hold the school in receivership and disband the board. Only then can the school move forward in its business of teaching our children. Under those circumstances, I would lead the school to success; now, no. There must be one African-American charter school in the Twin Cities that will take on the challenge of educating our children: LoveWorks has moved away from its original intent; our children deserve a better future.

~Don Allen, Ed.S., M.A. Ed., MAT - Chief Academic Officer-Superintendent (11/15/23-6/6/24)


(Don Allen has earned a Master of Arts in Education, Master of Arts in Teaching, Superintendent Licensure, Educational Specialist, 18-Online Comm Certification, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Hamline University School of Education's cohort-13, and is a PELSB Tier 4 Communication Arts/Literature teacher & a veteran of the U.S. Army.)