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ALL FINALISTS FOR THE TCSA HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR WERE FROM PCA!

KALEIDOSCOPE | 2014

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Summary Core Values Schools Results What If?

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Gestalt Community Schools (GCS) is a charter management organization that serves K-12 scholars. GCS leverages community assets to empower citizens who will be college-ready, career-ready, and community-ready.

GESTALT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS (GCS) is a system of K-12 collegepreparatory charter schools in targeted Tennessee neighborhoods that provides strong academic outcomes for its scholars. One way GCS improves academic outcomes is by involving the community in meaningful ways. GCS catalyzes community leadership to help revitalize the neighborhood as it operates its schools in that community.

Instead of debating whether education impacts the community or visa versa, GCS believes that the most impactful method to support student learning is an integration of education and community (a true “gestalt”).

Gestalt’s mission is to leverage community assets to empower citizens who will be college-ready, careerready, and community-ready.

Gestalt’s vision is to build better communities through education. GCS will achieve its mission and vision by providing its scholars with an exceptional educational program that is defined by rigorous curriculum standards, coupled with high expectations for academic achievement. GCS’s college prep program includes the following core components:

High expectations for academic achievement High technology Community service A community-based learning theme (such as entrepreneurship/ financial literacy)

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CORE VALUES Gestalt Community Schools holds the following values in high regard and embodies them to create a culture of learning, collaboration, and success across the network of schools and communities.

Building Better Communities Through Education.

ACHIEVEMENT WE STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN THE COMMUNITY. PCA Middle School scholars and siblings Jaden Wheeler and Amaya Selmon transformed a 7th grade business plan into a fully operating food truck business in a matter of months.

Jaden Wheeler created a business plan to sell snow cones for his business class, and he and his sister worked all summer so they could purchase a food truck. They are now the youngest food truck operators in Memphis.

COMMUNITY COLLABORATION IS KEY TO PERSONAL GROWTH AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION. PARTNERSHIPS ALLOW US TO SERVE AT A GREATER CAPACITY FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT. PCA High School 9th grade writing teacher, Ms. Susan Pepsin, turned technical writing curriculum into a lesson about philanthropy. Scholars identified personal passions, discovered local non-profit organizations, and wrote mock-grant proposals. A panel of non-profit executives judged the proposals, and the top three winners won cash prizes to donate to their non-profit organizations.

HUMILITY WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR SCHOLARS, PEERS, AND NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH WE SERVE, BECAUSE THE WORK WE DO SERVES A LARGER PURPOSE. At PCA High School, there were more than 1,000 hours contributed to community service, and that was just one scholar. PCA High School scholars are required to complete 10-community service hours per year, and Jahlyn Hayes has completed more than 1,000.

INNOVATION WE STRIVE TO EVOLVE FASTER THAN THE WORLD AROUND US. WE CAN ONLY BE OUR BEST IF WE ARE WILLING TO REEVALUATE AND REFINE WHAT WE DO. Community partners like Crosstown Arts bring exciting opportunities to be innovative and creative to scholars at HPA. The Rocket Writers program offered creative outlets, opportunities to collaborate with artists, and created a path for our scholars to become authors, artist, and performers.

ZEAL OUR DRIVE FOR SUCCESS IS DERIVED FROM THE COMPASSION FOR THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE. Klondike Preparatory Academy is in its first year of operation as Gestalt Community Schools’ first elementary school. The teachers and staff worked tirelessly to build strong and meaningful relationships with the parents and family members of the scholars. At the end of the first grading period, it was clear their hard work paid off. KPA hosted the first “Dinner and Data Night” on October 24, and they had more than 85% of parents/guardians participate. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles came to learn about their scholars’ grades and create a plan for the rest of the semester. Each teacher dedicated time to discuss each scholar’s report card in an effort to continue to grow the village that educates, supports, and encourages our scholars.

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OUR SCHOOLS All of our schools have a similar approach to education, integration of community, emphasis on technology, and culture of high expectations; however, each school’s curriculum reflects that specific community’s needs and interests.

GESTALT SCHOOLS Humes Preparatory Academy: grade 5-8 Klondike Preparatory Academy: grades K-2 (will grow to K-5) Power Center Academy Middle: grades 6-8 Power Center Academy High: grades 9-11 (will grow to 9-12)

SCHOOL PLEDGES

This is our house, the power house In our house, we power up our minds with knowledge We power up each other with encouragement

This is our Den, the KPA Cougar Den. This is our community, the Humes Community!

In our community, we develop our intellect to expand our horizons.

We power up our community by giving back

In our community, we harness our imagination to dream big.

PCA is a power house where we learn to think globally and act locally.

In our community, we embrace our desire for innovation to enhance the world around us.

HPA is the community where our scholars gear up to give back.

In our den, we have the freedom to wonder

(index fingers point to head),

To ask (both hands with palms up),

to explore (fingers wiggle and spread),

To imagine, to create

(hands clasp back together and remain there).

The talents of each of us, helps all of us to make our good better and our better best, Because we take ownership of our actions and strive for success.

At KPA, We are achieving more and serving more for our community and beyond!

SCHOOLS [5 YEAR SNAPSHOT]

2013 2008

. GSAA re-located and renamed Humes Preparatory Academy

. Power Center Academy Middle School founded . Now serving 360 scholars in grades 6 – 8

2012

. Community focus on business and entrepreneurship

. Gordon Science & Arts Middle School opened

. Now serving 400 scholars in grades 5 – 8 . Community focus on science and arts

. Klondike Preparatory Academy opened . Power Center Academy High School opened . Now serving 400 scholars in grades 9 – 11, will grow to 9 – 12

. Serving 120 scholars in grades K – 2, will grow to K – 5 . Community focus on science and arts

. Community focus on business and entrepreneurship

2011

2013

HUMES PREPARATORY ACADEMY

IN 2012, Gordon Science & Arts Academy opened its doors in a shared space with Gordon Elementary School to approximately 130 6th grade scholars who were originally zoned to attend Humes Middle School. This year year, Gordon Science & Arts Academy re-located back into the Humes facility and changed its name to Humes Preparatory Academy. This move returned the scholars back to their original neighborhood school, while they continue to receive the same academic rigor and robust school culture.

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Humes Prepratory Academy will serve scholars in grades 5 through 8, divided between HPA Elementary and HPA Middle. Eventually, HPA Elementary and HPA Middle will grow to serve grades K through 8.

It is a privilege to operate in the historic Humes facility.

Elvis Presley graduated from Humes High School in 1953, and the HPA scholars will continue his legacy in music and community engagement.

In addition, HPA scholars will continue their focus on science, technology, and robotics.

KLONDIKE PREPARATORY ACADEMY IN 2013, another first for Gestalt Community Schools came when Klondike Preparatory Academy opened its doors to opportunity to 120 scholars in grades K through 2. Klondike Preparatory Academy

serves scholars who were originally zoned to attend Klondike Elementary School.

KPA will share space in Klondike Elementary School until KPA fully serves scholars in grades K through 5.

GROWTH

THE SCHOOLS in the

North Memphis community remain focused in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). In addition, all of these schools are in the pipeline for the future high school that will go into the Sears Crosstown building, a vertical urban village anchored in health and wellness, arts, and education.

Expansion also still continues in the Hickory Hill community.

Power Center Academy Middle continues to serve scholars in grades 6 – 8, AND Power Center Academy High School moved to an interim location that provides a comprehensive high school facility for scholars in grades 9 through 11. Much like the expansion at Crosstown, Power Center Academy Middle and High schools will be anchored in the new PCA Town Center, a community model that has our schools at the center of a

comprehensive urban community complete with a performing arts facility, wellness center, and affordable housing.

GCS’ extensive growth plan is fueled by one reason: to offer world-class education to students who currently do not have access to this level of education. Education is critical to the students in these targeted neighborhoods; without quality education and preparation for success in college, they are destined to continued poverty.

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OUR RESULTS See how Gestalt Community Schools measure up.

2013 EOC - PCA HIGH

2012 EOC - PCA HIGH

37.9%

39.0%

60.3%

ALGEBRA I 17.4%

ALGEBRA II

75.3%

59.9%

ALGEBRA I

73.8%

42.0% 52.5% 35.1%

BIOLOGY I

28.3%

62.3%

76.1%

55.5%

BIOLOGY I

58.1%

42.9%

ENGLISH I

68.1%

81.2% 43.2%

17.8%

ENGLISH II

59.5% 70.6% 90.5% 96.1% 97.5%

U.S. HISTORY

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% DISTRICT - MCS

STATE - TN

66.1%

ENGLISH I

GCS - PCAHS

2013 TCAP - GSAA/HPA

85.3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% DISTRICT - MCS

STATE - TN

GCS - PCAHS

2012 TCAP - HPA MIDDLE

*HPA is a turnaround school that was in the bottom 5% in 2012, and GCS’ goal is to increase academic gains dramatically over the next 3 years.

12.6% 29.1%

ELA

50.3%

29.2%

ELA

27.6%

49.9% 18.6%

19.6% 33.0%

MATHEMATICS

27.6%

50.7%

MATHEMATICS

17.9%

47.2% 15.2%

19.4%

31.8%

37.4%

SCIENCE

62.6%

61.2%

SCIENCE

32.7%

16.8% 46.5%

30.6%

66.7%

SOCIAL STUDIES

84.8% 63.5%

48.2%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% DISTRICT - ASD

DISTRICT - MCS

STATE - TN

59.2%

SOCIAL STUDIES

GCS - GSAA/HPA

0%

20% DISTRICT - MCS

40%

60%

STATE - TN

80%

100%

GCS - HPAMS

2013 TCAP - PCA MIDDLE 80%

84.8%

91.1%

90%

40%

10%

29.1%

20%

33.0%

30%

0%

ELA

66.7%

62.6% 37.4%

50.3%

50%

50.7%

60%

66.5%

66.4%

70%

98.6%

100%

MATHEMATICS DISTRICT - MCS

SCIENCE STATE - TN

SOCIAL STUDIES

GCS - PCAHS

2012 TCAP - PCA MIDDLE 100% 80%

90.6%

94.3%

90%

10% 0%

ELA

59.2%

61.2%

MATHEMATICS DISTRICT - MCS

30.6%

27.6%

20%

29.2%

30%

31.8%

40%

56.6%

49.9%

50%

47.2%

60%

63.6%

70%

SCIENCE STATE - TN

SOCIAL STUDIES

GCS - PCAHS

2011 TCAP - PCA MIDDLE 100% 80%

93%

87%

90%

57%

56%

25%

20%

17%

30%

26%

40%

36%

50%

50%

40%

56%

60%

79%

70%

10% 0%

ELA

MATHEMATICS DISTRICT - MCS

SCIENCE STATE - TN

GCS - PCAHS

SOCIAL STUDIES

WHAT IF? Think about what GCS has done in the past three years with students starting in the 6th grade‌

2011

2012

2013

PCA Middle School was named the highest performing middle school in the state of Tennessee by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE)

U.S. Department of Education and the White House recognized GCS as one of 24 organizations from across the nation as Together for Tomorrow (TFT) Challenge winners, for community engagement efforts around schools.

All finalists for the Tennessee Charter School Association’s High School Teacher of the Year were from Power Center Academy High, and Cullen Johnson, 10th grade Chemistry, won the award.

WHAT IF? What if we started earlier than that? What if started at the beginning? What if we started teaching lessons in innovation, humility, community, zeal, and achievement in kindergarten? What would that look like?

Would scholars blog about community service? Would scholars encourage and support their classmates through silent language? Would scholars shake your hand, look you in the eye, and welcome you to the classroom? Would scholars make monumental academic gains in their first year?

THEY WOULD, THEY ARE, AND THIS IS JUST YEAR ONE. KALEIDOSCOPE | 2014

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