MAC Week 1 Leadership Post

A leader is one who sees more than others see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others see.

- Leroy Eimes

When asked to contemplate a person who personifies leadership, I tend to think of persons who embodies qualities such as strength, vision, and organization, that develops and implements a plan focused on a purpose that he/she successfully implements.  In lieu of the fact that I am passionate about changing the course of the lives of young people and exposing them to opportunities beyond that of their current experience, the leader for whom I have a deep respect is Jack Perry.  Mr. Perry is the founder and leader of Prestige Academy, an all-boys, inner-city charter school servicing students in grades 5-8 in Wilmington, DE.  He saw a need in the Wilmington, DE area as many of our students are not passing the state tests in reading and math.  Specifically, at the time of the application, approximately 50% of young men in grade 5 and 55% of young men in grade 8 were failing to meet the standard.  The school's mission was to create a highly structured environment that would support academic achievement of its students.  He recruited teachers that bought into the philosophy of an extended school day (8am - 5:30 pm) and an extended school year (11 months).  He has a very professional, dedicated team of educators who have indeed done so.  He then had to launch a marketing plan that would successfully draw applicants for the school.  That was successfully done.  He had to require 100% parental involvement and monitor that involvement during the course of the year.  That has thus far been successful.  And ultimately, he needed to work diligently with all involved parties to create a learning environment where young men could be successfully both within the building and without (on standardized tests).  That has been and continues to be accomplished.  As an educator who would like to start a similar school, I have nothing but the highest regard for Mr. Jack Perry for his visionary leadership at Prestige Charter School.  

Information about the school can be found at http://www.prestigeacademycs.org/.