Concrete jungle where dreams are made
Executive Director, People, Infrastructure & Innovations
Ted Wragg Trust
Over half-term, I had the privilege of joining a group of 25 of us who flew to NYC to visit breakthrough schools and meet with their leaders.
The Reach Foundation’s LeadingTrusts programme supports the next generation of trust leaders to lead the next era of transformational trusts in the UK, and they curated an incredible programme for us all.
Dreams
I left New York re-energised and ready to go again. Leading school systems is hard work, and we have a long way to go as a sector. However, the hope and optimism of the individuals we met during our short stay made it impossible not to leave feeling inspired.
At the Harlem Children’s Zone, we met Kevin Dougherty—known as “Doc”—a calm, committed individual who described himself as an “optimistic realist,” a phrase that could describe many of those we met. Everyone was clear on the challenges facing the children, families, and communities they served, but there was no sense that they were not up for meeting those challenges head-on.
On my last night in New York, I was lucky enough to take in a Broadway show, Hell’s Kitchen. The last number of the night was Alicia Keys’ Empire State of Mind: “Concrete jungle where dreams are made of… big lights will inspire you.”
But the most illuminating lights of this trip didn’t come from Times Square or Broadway. They came from the people we met—people with big dreams for the communities they were serving. That song took me straight back to where we began: at DREAM Charter Schools, where everyone is invited to “DREAM big.” Even the building itself oozes inspiration and aspiration. They are clear: “All kids can. This kid can.”
Empowerment
One of the key themes that rang out through every school we visited and every presentation we heard was empowerment. There was such beauty in the asset mindset of all these people. The importance of listening shone through—working with and alongside communities, rather than doing to.
We were warmly welcomed into Salomé Ureña Campus on our second day by the reassuring and enthusiastic smile of Dr. Migdalia Cortes, Community School Director.
Their community school model shows a real clarity of thought built up over time, humbly and clearly presented by Abe Fernandez. The partnership between Miriam Rosa, the Principal, and Migdalia demonstrated a deep commitment to developing the skills of the adults as well as the children, in what they described as social and emotional sensitivities. Empowering adults to respond to the needs in front of them.
In her session with us on Operational Excellence, Christie Chow (from Uncommon Schools) epitomised a different kind of empowerment and enablement. It was clear how much Uncommon values the Director of Operations in a school, a role that ensures more teachers are able to be more successful for more children. By elevating the status of this role and maximising their human resource, more can be achieved. Christie encouraged us not to underestimate the power of service-oriented leaders who anticipate the needs of the school community, moving from technical to transformational co-leadership.
Investment
Each group and individual we met was empowered with purpose. What stood out across DREAM, Success, Harlem Children’s Zone, and Children’s Aid was their long-term commitment to these children. Everyone we met was in it for the long haul, truly invested in the futures of the children they serve.
Rich Berlin and Eve Colavito both spoke with pride about DREAM’s Legends programme—a commitment to 0–24 support, and to building a pipeline of alumni who return to the community to continue the work. DREAM has set an ambitious target: 30% of their staff to be alumni.
Miriam Rosa, at Salomé Ureña Campus, shared the story of a first-year teacher who used to attend the school. Stacey Gershkovich, at Success, spoke clearly about the commitment to ensuring children not only get to college, but are able to remain and thrive there. At Harlem Children’s Zone, Alicia Grant described the career counsellors who remain with each child throughout college. No one felt their job was finished when a child left school. They weren’t just invested in individuals, but in generational shifts, opening doors for whole communities.
Doug McCurry, co-founder of Achievement First, beautifully rounded off our transformational three-day stay by reflecting on our responsibility and role as leaders in transforming lives and strengthening communities. He reminded us of the importance of “tasting the food”—ensuring we stay connected to our purpose by staying close to our schools. But the core of his message was about investing in our people: making time to grow and develop the very best, for the benefit of our children.
This theme of investing in talent was echoed by everyone we spent time with—none more so than Karen Annette Francois and Morty Ballen. They spoke passionately about building adult culture, recruiting to values, building your team, and investing in your own development as fundamental to success.
Diversity of approach, commonality of mission
Our group visited Urban Assembly’s School of Law and Justice, an unscreened (non-selective) high school run by the NYC Department of Education—the largest school district in the country. We met with CEO David Adams and learned how Urban Assembly has balanced innovation with coherence, ensuring all students leave high school enriched with skills, opportunities, and ambition. It was remarkable to see how strategic, people-driven innovation has shaped each community’s outcomes and experiences.
It would be remiss of me not to mention the complete privilege of the time we also got to spend with Doug, Colleen, and Erica, exploring the fundamentals of their new book, The Teach Like A Champion Guide to the Science of Reading. We were especially proud that they featured our very own Jen Brimming, Headteacher at Marine Academy Plymouth, modelling fantastic literacy lessons.
This slightly different session in terms of content reflected another theme of our time in New York: although there may have been diversity of approaches, there was a deep commonality of mission. Everyone we met was committed to tackling some really gritty societal challenges—and doing so through listening, research, and complete commitment to their cause. Their goal: to change children’s lives for the better.
Thank you, New York, you have been more than generous in all that you have given. We will be forever grateful. I leave feeling there is nothing we can’t do, that a bit of empowerment, investment, and a big dream won’t solve.
