Propel Schools describes its McKeesport location as an "inconspicuous charter school on a tough street, in a tough neighborhood." Many people would assume few students at this school would excel academically, given the distractions and challenges they face. But teachers at Propel will tell you that any child can succeed, despite the difficulty of their circumstances.
The staff at Propel McKeesport knew they made major progress last year in closing the achievement gap between their school and more affluent schools in the Pittsburgh region. But they were surprised earlier this week when word came that Propel McKeesport was named the top performing elementary school in a nationwide consortium of 89 elementary charter schools.
The school received the Effective Practice Incentive Community (EPIC) Award from
New Leaders for New Schools and was put in the organization's "Gold Gain" category, which is EPIC's highest honor. They had won the silver-level award last year, but the gold came as a pleasant surprise.
Propel McKeesport principal Tina Chekan credits her staff for making this achievement possible. "We've very purposefully hired high-quality teachers," she says, and "it's a collaborative culture where teachers share best practices." Chekan also mentions the role of parents at her school. "For the past five years we've had 100 percent participation for parent/teacher conferences," she says. "We want parents to be advocates for their children, and we've had results."
Dr. Carol Wooten, Propel Schools' superintendent, says this honor has an impact beyond the school community. "This puts us as one of the top performing elementary schools in the country," she says. "It makes us realize what a vital component we are to the city of Pittsburgh." In many struggling communities, Wooten says, the presence of a Propel School draws new people to the neighborhood, fostering progress.
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Writer: Melissa Rayworth
Source: Tina Chekan/Carol Wooten, Propel Schools
Image by Brian Cohen