Journal of a Black Teacher

By Don Allen - Journal of A Black Teacher  Let’s be honest : starting a new charter school in the Twin Cities should not be a Herculean task, especially when the public schools are doing most of the recruitment work for you. Want 1,000 students in your brand-new charter school? Here’s your blueprint: serve children, teach them to read, show up with structure, and maybe, just maybe, don’t treat families like they're lucky just to be in the building. The truth is, public schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul have stumbled into a crisis of confidence, and it's not just about underfunding or teacher burnout. It's about the chronic inability to meet the basic academic needs of Black, Brown, and low-income students. Parents aren’t blind. They see the chaos. They feel the disrespect. They notice that Johnny is still reading at a second-grade level in seventh grade. And when public schools send home grade reports that look like participation trophies, families know what time it is: i...

"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...