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Mission Possible: How the Secrets of the Success Academies Can Work in Any School
Strategies for making the schools we need that work for all kids Eva Moskowitz (the founder and CEO of the Success Charter Network in Harlem) and Arin Lavinia offer practical, classroom-tested ideas for dramatically improving teaching and learning. Moskowitz and Lavinia reveal how a charter school in the middle of Harlem, enrolling neighborhood children selected at random, emerged as one of the top schools in New York City and State within three years. The results of the Harlem school were on a par with public schools for gifted students and elite private schools. In addition to providing strategies and lessons for school leaders and teachers, Secrets of the Success Academies also serves as a guide for parents, policymakers, and practitioners who are passionate about closing the academic achievement gap.
- GenresEducationNonfiction
176 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2012
7 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Eva Moskowitz
5 books21 followersEva Moskowitz is the founder and CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools, and a former New York City council member. She has a PhD in American history from Johns Hopkins University, a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, and is a graduate of Stuyvesant High School. She lives in Harlem with her husband and their three children.
Learn more in her new memoir, The Education of Eva Moskowitz: http://bit.ly/EvaMMemoir
Learn more in her new memoir, The Education of Eva Moskowitz: http://bit.ly/EvaMMemoir
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 20, 2023
This book is an older tome on the virtues and strengths of a particular charter network, but came along at a time when I am trying to make some sense of "reforms" that sometimes don't make sense. IF our "reformers" put these ideas into practice the correct way, we'd be fine. Unfortunately, they have all the good ideas within this book twisted beyond comprehension.
August 26, 2018
Great book if you are interested in public school vs. charter school education. Can be depressing.
April 16, 2022
A bold call for joyful rigor in American schools! I loved it
August 4, 2012
Review:
I am a fan of education in most formats as long as the student(s) are getting the most out of their experience(s). I attended public school my whole life, as well as public community/state colleges, so I am pretty well-versed about those types of institutions; however, I have never read anything in-depth about private/charter schooling - besides acknowledging the inflating price tag of private schools. Honestly, I had to Google The Success Academies when I received Mission Possible because I had no idea what/where they were. Format-wise I think the book is well-edited and flows from section-to-section; I did not have any problems following along in the book/with the included DVD. I liked the darkened text boxes that corresponded to different video clips - very easy to use and understand. The content was very novel, a refreshing take on the state of education and possible ideas for the future. If I were teaching, especially young children, I would love to implement some of these methods; particularly those having to do with reading and critical thinking. The authors did a great job setting up the book, although I would have liked to get to know more about classroom management techniques as well as student activities that prompt social skill development. The only drawbacks of this program seem to lie in the rigorousness of the 'course-load' and the areas in which it can be instituted, (rural versus urban, etc...). I also found the amount of boasting about the Success Academies' record quite annoying, but if the program works so well it definitely deserves praise. Overall, a worthwhile read for all those in the teaching/education fields.
Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)
*** I received this book from the author (The SITS Girls) in exchange for compensation, and have posted my honest and unbiased review.
I am a fan of education in most formats as long as the student(s) are getting the most out of their experience(s). I attended public school my whole life, as well as public community/state colleges, so I am pretty well-versed about those types of institutions; however, I have never read anything in-depth about private/charter schooling - besides acknowledging the inflating price tag of private schools. Honestly, I had to Google The Success Academies when I received Mission Possible because I had no idea what/where they were. Format-wise I think the book is well-edited and flows from section-to-section; I did not have any problems following along in the book/with the included DVD. I liked the darkened text boxes that corresponded to different video clips - very easy to use and understand. The content was very novel, a refreshing take on the state of education and possible ideas for the future. If I were teaching, especially young children, I would love to implement some of these methods; particularly those having to do with reading and critical thinking. The authors did a great job setting up the book, although I would have liked to get to know more about classroom management techniques as well as student activities that prompt social skill development. The only drawbacks of this program seem to lie in the rigorousness of the 'course-load' and the areas in which it can be instituted, (rural versus urban, etc...). I also found the amount of boasting about the Success Academies' record quite annoying, but if the program works so well it definitely deserves praise. Overall, a worthwhile read for all those in the teaching/education fields.
Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)
*** I received this book from the author (The SITS Girls) in exchange for compensation, and have posted my honest and unbiased review.
November 30, 2012
The book provides a really interesting look into some of the specifics about the Success Academy charter schools. She provides a lot of specific details to explain and describe her ideas about academic rigor and instructional coaching.
Like other reformers, she occasionally lapses into blanket generalizations about "teachers" and "schools of education," as if every other public school in the country is somehow marching in lockstep. Some of that is inherent in the title of her book, because although some of what her charters are doing are good ideas, others aren't. For example, one of her key values is "fast." That's great, but it's also a NYC thing and not something that everyone around the country needs or wants.
The biggest weakness of the book lies in her celebration of these ideas as ways for any school to succeed. There are many good ideas, but she is also careful to credit parents for committing to monitoring their child's homework, getting them to school, etc. She says repeatedly that partnering with parents is essential. What she doesn't address is what happens when parents don't commit to monitoring homework and don't care (or aren't around to notice) if kids get to school. She doesn't, for example, discuss what her schools do for children who arrive without eating breakfast in the morning. Not having enough food to eat has a known impact on how and what a child learns. She certainly doesn't address what schools should do when parents refuse to be involved for one reason or another. Those are crucial elements, and I find it doubtful that excellent teaching and academic rigor alone will compensate when parents just don't care. She has good ideas that schools would be well-advised to take into consideration, but her model should be just one among many for parents interested in education alternatives.
Like other reformers, she occasionally lapses into blanket generalizations about "teachers" and "schools of education," as if every other public school in the country is somehow marching in lockstep. Some of that is inherent in the title of her book, because although some of what her charters are doing are good ideas, others aren't. For example, one of her key values is "fast." That's great, but it's also a NYC thing and not something that everyone around the country needs or wants.
The biggest weakness of the book lies in her celebration of these ideas as ways for any school to succeed. There are many good ideas, but she is also careful to credit parents for committing to monitoring their child's homework, getting them to school, etc. She says repeatedly that partnering with parents is essential. What she doesn't address is what happens when parents don't commit to monitoring homework and don't care (or aren't around to notice) if kids get to school. She doesn't, for example, discuss what her schools do for children who arrive without eating breakfast in the morning. Not having enough food to eat has a known impact on how and what a child learns. She certainly doesn't address what schools should do when parents refuse to be involved for one reason or another. Those are crucial elements, and I find it doubtful that excellent teaching and academic rigor alone will compensate when parents just don't care. She has good ideas that schools would be well-advised to take into consideration, but her model should be just one among many for parents interested in education alternatives.
January 8, 2016
Teaching students from poverty has become a passion of mine. I live in an area where the public school system is consistently receiving failing grades. As a supervising professor of student teachers, I have observed what goes in several of these classrooms and was very disappointed in the lack of rigor and classroom management.
I have also observed classrooms at Success Academy Bronx 2 and was impressed with what I saw. This book outlines the strategies the network employs to produce high achievement in literacy, math, and writing. The authors' message is clear:
"... We think our approach and methods - embracing rigor, working intensively with grown-ups to improve their teaching skills, and demanding excellence from all - can work in schools everywhere, public or charter" (p. 145).
To reform what appears to be mediocrity in many of our public schools will take a dramatic change from the "grown-ups" who work in them. Success Academy has been able to do this with intensive teacher training, research-based methods, and a belief that all of their students can be college-ready, starting with the first day they enter the program.
If you are a public school educator, especially working in an elementary school, compare what goes on in your school with the training and pedagogy that you will read about in this book. Ask yourself why can't your school do this?
Despite all the negativity surrounding Eva Moskowitz, I know what it takes to try to transform a school. You don't make a lot of friends. The status quo is deeply embedded. We need some "radical reform," because I can't see it happening any other way, especially with children from poverty.
Dr. Tom Mawhinney
I have also observed classrooms at Success Academy Bronx 2 and was impressed with what I saw. This book outlines the strategies the network employs to produce high achievement in literacy, math, and writing. The authors' message is clear:
"... We think our approach and methods - embracing rigor, working intensively with grown-ups to improve their teaching skills, and demanding excellence from all - can work in schools everywhere, public or charter" (p. 145).
To reform what appears to be mediocrity in many of our public schools will take a dramatic change from the "grown-ups" who work in them. Success Academy has been able to do this with intensive teacher training, research-based methods, and a belief that all of their students can be college-ready, starting with the first day they enter the program.
If you are a public school educator, especially working in an elementary school, compare what goes on in your school with the training and pedagogy that you will read about in this book. Ask yourself why can't your school do this?
Despite all the negativity surrounding Eva Moskowitz, I know what it takes to try to transform a school. You don't make a lot of friends. The status quo is deeply embedded. We need some "radical reform," because I can't see it happening any other way, especially with children from poverty.
Dr. Tom Mawhinney
August 5, 2012
Mission Possible chronicles the success of the Success Academies in New York City and how they have transformed the education of students in Harlem and the surrounding areas. By opening a series of charter schools that take students via lottery they have transformed education focusing not only on the student but the adults who teach them as well. They follow a community model where parents sign an honorary contract to read to their students and participate in homework and volunteer at the school. There are interesting strategies throughout the book on ways to help teachers develop and engage students in a new way. The crux of this book is that times have changed and new strategies are needed. One thing that this book goes to far in doing is condemning all public schools as being bad and out of date. As someone who recruited students from all schools I found plenty of public schools with great education systems and in many cases better than their private equivalent. Overall this is a great theoretical model and one worth considering if you are an educator but it is by no means the answer to all educational problems.
July 6, 2012
A short, interesting look at the Success Academies' approach. It was neat to get insight into the way that they teach reading and writing. Given the book's focus on what it called "elegant" writing, the content is sometimes undermined by the breezy, consultant-speak tone - e.g. students "are going to have many more bites of this apple."
The "takeaways" section includes tips for principals, teachers, parents, and school reformers. I found that the "school reformers" section largely lacked concrete tips. That is somewhat understandable given that the book is focused on changes at the classroom and school level, but given that it was included, I think the authors should have given more thought to how to make it useful. For instance, in one section, the authors write, "We need to make speed a core educational value and a part of our public policy arsenal" is not of much use. Policymakers are aware that change moves slowly. The question is HOW to move faster - and in what direction!
The "takeaways" section includes tips for principals, teachers, parents, and school reformers. I found that the "school reformers" section largely lacked concrete tips. That is somewhat understandable given that the book is focused on changes at the classroom and school level, but given that it was included, I think the authors should have given more thought to how to make it useful. For instance, in one section, the authors write, "We need to make speed a core educational value and a part of our public policy arsenal" is not of much use. Policymakers are aware that change moves slowly. The question is HOW to move faster - and in what direction!
Read
January 8, 2016Quit fighting SA and adopt the strong practices they use!
Frequently progressive educators are finding fault with the methods (but not the results) used by Success Academy to produce high-achieving scholars. Whether is is bashing the founder Eva Moskowitz and her relationship with big-money hedge fund owners or the confessions of SA teacher drop outs. The bottom line is that minority, low-income students are achieving at high rates. So why aren't more poor performing programs emulating their methods. It's all about good teaching and as a country, we can and must do it!
Frequently progressive educators are finding fault with the methods (but not the results) used by Success Academy to produce high-achieving scholars. Whether is is bashing the founder Eva Moskowitz and her relationship with big-money hedge fund owners or the confessions of SA teacher drop outs. The bottom line is that minority, low-income students are achieving at high rates. So why aren't more poor performing programs emulating their methods. It's all about good teaching and as a country, we can and must do it!
September 30, 2017
Moskowitz has accomplished great things at Success Academies and she should be lauded for her success and for the high achievement her schools achieve. The tone of this book is so arrogant that it was horrible to read. It is smug in many regards. She speaks about public education as if she were an expert but she has no training in education and has never worked in public schools. She has some valid points but they are hard to hear because if her pretension tone. Sometime what you say is clouded by how you say it and this is the perfect example of that.
June 25, 2015
Reading books like this gets me excited about either the upcoming school year (if I'm reading them over the summer) or the current school year. Unfortunately, I always feel like I am powerless to implement what I've read since I'm 'only a teacher' and most of the decisions are dictated to me either by the state, county, or principal. I'll continue to read books like this and incorporate as much as I can into my class and hope that my successes become the model and not the exception.
January 10, 2014
Not life changing. The content is 100% on the right track for reading instruction, but only sets up a theoretical understanding. Teachers and leaders have to go elsewhere to get practical knowledge. (Of course that isn't bad, because I would rather teachers get their practical knowledge via expert led professional development.)
August 8, 2014
A broad but informative overview of the Success Academy curriculum. Though now a bit outdated, readers will understand Success Academy's approach to math and literature, although not the nuances of curriculum. However, it's worth reading for urban educators interested in the education reform movement.
August 10, 2012
It's an interesting look at education in America. I think many of the goals are lofty – at least for the short term. But, I love their approach – especially to literacy.
Full thoughts: http://wp.me/p2CN6k-2gC
Full thoughts: http://wp.me/p2CN6k-2gC
September 2, 2012
Check out some of my thoughts on the blog: http://www.unintentionally-brilliant....
August 8, 2012
Every parent and teacher should read this book. We need to work together to create an education system that gives our children a world-class education!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews