By Ray Faulkenberry
I grew up and went to school right here in the East Bay. Understand that although I was an excellent student grade-wise, I honestly feel that I got very, very little from our public school system from sixth grade on. I cannot tell you all of the reasons why – they were many. Overcrowded classrooms, lecture-based teaching, teacher burn-out, being a product/student of the 1960’s and 70’s…lots of things.
Having been an educator in some way, shape or form for the last thirty years has given me a wide view of how education is administered in this, our modern society. Having survived our public education system, I recently witnessed something that I didn’t think I would ever see in a public school – a mind blowing process that incorporates multiple styles of teaching and learning that is not even present in most expensive private schools.
As a school teacher for the last twenty years I have nothing but the ultimate respect for anyone who goes to work in education and puts their heart and soul into their job. The task of educating our young people in a time where our economy is down, most all parents – both sets work full time is by no means an easy job. Parents and educators are greatly challenged in trying to provide the best academic as well as emotional education possible to their kids and students. Massive cuts in the budget have done nothing to enhance this process.
This is why I am so impressed with the RAAMP Charter Academy, which sits at the back of Black Diamond Middle School. RAAMP stands for Raising Academic Achievement Multicultural Program. Originally designed for working with African-American males, RAAMP is now co-ed and open to anyone of any race.
I got a chance to visit the school and sat in every class from anywhere between five and fifty minutes. I witnessed the best math lesson I’ve ever seen by third grade teacher, Mr. Connor. Aside from being an incredible teacher and classroom organizer, Mr. Connor has an incredibly cool accent from Scotland, England, or Ireland.
I left Mr. Connors class and went from one class/grade (each classroom is a grade and a couple of classes are actually combined in 2 grades!) to another and saw more examples of excellent teachers doing an amazing job of not only relaying information, but as importantly if not more so, providing solid emotional education as well.
I place an incredibly high value on not only being able to read, write, and think with our minds, but to also be wise emotionally in being able to communicate, be polite, respectful, and compassionate. Both emotional and academic intelligence was equally on display by the teachers and students I visited.
My own kids struggled in the Antioch public school system before we got them enrolled in another of Antioch’s amazing Charter Schools – Antioch Charter Academy (ACA). At ACA my children flourished and have since graduated and moved onto to a third amazing school here in Antioch – Dozier Libbey Medical High school. However, what makes RAAMP so amazing is that in many cases they have taken kids who have struggled in school and at home and provided an environment for learning the likes of which I have never witnessed.
Founder and Executive Director Karla Branch is not only a tireless warrior when it comes to advocating what is best for her kids, she still gets in the classroom every day and works with her sixth and seventh graders and teaches them math. I know many principals and administrators were once teachers – many of them excellent at teaching. I don’t know of any of them who take on the role of a full-time administrator who also gets in the classroom day in and day out.
RAAMP is not a school that is only for kids who have struggled or kids of color. RAAMP is a school that provides education that is relevant, valuable, and taught from the heart. Speaking from my own experience, the best educational transfer comes from teachers who have shown respect, sensitivity, and love for their students. They speak, teach, and interact from that desire to guide, instruct, and love their students.
Some may point to the low API score that RAAMP has received. Students have come from public education and their initial scores reflect that. Once they come to RAAMP, their scores shoot straight up. In the school office they have a display, which indicates each grade’s math scores. It listed their entry level abilities and how many were behind, caught up and meeting the basics. Right next to it is an assessment seven weeks into the semester and every grade shows a huge improvement – in just a few short weeks!
Many of RAAMP’s kids come from a struggling background. Many have struggled in other schools and many come from single-parent homes. However, these kids, teachers and administrators are committed to providing and receiving the best education possible. I was honored and blown away by my visit to RAAMP. My heart goes out to the staff and students at the school.
I left a form with the administrator – a form that suggests a fund-raising project that I am interested in. It’s a project for me and Antioch as a whole, but, after hearing and seeing RAAMP, I would love to help them financially because, frankly, they deserve it.
Yes, indeed there is something magical happening here in Antioch. After witnessing the education and compassion in which it is delivered, I feel significantly more comfortable that the kids from RAAMP will do their part to help the world become a better place. To learn more about RAAMP you can go to www.RAAMP.com
Ray Faulkenberry, PhD is a business analyst, consultant, coach, author, and entrepreneur. Log onto his website and receive his books on success, leadership, and transformation for free. He can be reached at www.rayfaulkenberry.com or rayfaulkenberry@comcast.net.
