This week's Westword features a cover story about Life Skills Center of Denver. In addition to a frank account of the real-life situations the students at LSC face, the article does a great job of explaining Santiago Lopez's key role in turning around the school.
Santiago became the Principal of LSC in January of 2006 and then within a year Denver Public Schools revoked the school's charter. Santiago made initial changes, but there wasn't any new test data to report before DPS decided to close the school.
Life Skills is managed by White Hat Management, LLC out of Ohio. They also have a charter school in Colorado Springs. After a rough start, the Colo. Springs school got a new Principal who reformed the school and it currently is an excellent model for at-risk education.
Our charter school support team, the Charter School Support Initiative, did week-long audits of both Life Skills charter schools and the model is effective with high-risk students. The model is primarily computer-based and self-paced. Classroom teachers who are quick to jump in and help individual students and a strong English Language Learner component are both evident at the Colo. Springs school. The Denver school is working on improving a variety of things, including these two components. As mentioned in the Westword article, closely monitoring student attendance and making personal contact when a student is absent, has been a top priority for LSC-Denver staff.
Santiago Lopez has valiently stepped up to the challenge of reforming his school. He walked in to a very difficult situation. Having visited the school several times and having periodic contact with Santiago, I can honestly say Santiago's made dramatic changes and I'm confident the school's data will prove as such to the Denver Public School's board when the charter renewal is considered in February.
Santiago became the Principal of LSC in January of 2006 and then within a year Denver Public Schools revoked the school's charter. Santiago made initial changes, but there wasn't any new test data to report before DPS decided to close the school.
Life Skills is managed by White Hat Management, LLC out of Ohio. They also have a charter school in Colorado Springs. After a rough start, the Colo. Springs school got a new Principal who reformed the school and it currently is an excellent model for at-risk education.
Our charter school support team, the Charter School Support Initiative, did week-long audits of both Life Skills charter schools and the model is effective with high-risk students. The model is primarily computer-based and self-paced. Classroom teachers who are quick to jump in and help individual students and a strong English Language Learner component are both evident at the Colo. Springs school. The Denver school is working on improving a variety of things, including these two components. As mentioned in the Westword article, closely monitoring student attendance and making personal contact when a student is absent, has been a top priority for LSC-Denver staff.
Santiago Lopez has valiently stepped up to the challenge of reforming his school. He walked in to a very difficult situation. Having visited the school several times and having periodic contact with Santiago, I can honestly say Santiago's made dramatic changes and I'm confident the school's data will prove as such to the Denver Public School's board when the charter renewal is considered in February.
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