Description

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A Light Shines in Harlem tells the story of the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem, the first charter school in New York. It is an inspirational tale of how a hero of the civil rights movement, a Wall Street star, educators, activists, parents, and students all joined together to create a groundbreaking school that, in its best years, far outperformed other schools in the neighborhoods in which most of its children lived. This book also discusses the most recent research and issues facing the charter movement and how lessons from them can be applied to other schools.

About the Author

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Mary C. Bounds is an award-winning journalist who has written for the Dallas Morning News, the Houston Chronicle, the New York Times, and other publications. She lives in Chappaqua, New York. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker is a renowned civil rights leader and pastor. He was chief of staff for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Virginia state director of the Congress of Racial Equality, executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and helped organize the 1963 March on Washington. He lives in Chester, Virginia.

Praise For…

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“Each school has its own story, but few are chronicled as honestly, openly, and passionately as in this engaging volume. You will learn to love this school built with the same passion that inspired those who walked with Dr. Martin Luther King.” —Professor Paul E. Peterson, director of the Program on Education Policy and Governance at HarvardUniversity and author of Saving Schools: From Horace Mann to Virtual Learning

“A compelling, dynamic tale of how to create great schools. If you’re a parent or teacher who cares about educating our children, this is a book you cannot afford to miss.” —David A. Vise, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of The Bureau and the Mole and The Google Story

“A beautifully written and meticulously researched story about New York’s first charter school and the heroic folks who were responsible for creating this groundbreaking educational institution. It is a riveting story with a host of exceptional characters who turned a dream into a reality.” —Sy Fliegel, author, Miracle in East Harlem: The Fight for Choice in Public Education

"A must-read for anyone who cares about improving our educational system. Mary Bounds has researched and written an important story detailing the tenacious process required to establish charter schools in New York. It is a well-told narrative about launching a successful program that can enrich the education of every child in America.” —George E. Pataki, former governor of New York

“A Light Shines in Harlem tells the truly remarkable story behind New York City’s charter schools and the people who paved the way for lights to shine for more children. Read it and you’ll understand why charter schools were created and how they are the most important lever for social and economic equity this nation has ever seen.” —Jeanne Allen, Founder, Senior Fellow, and president emeritus, The Center for Education Reform

“A new, must-read book that tells the poignant, impactful story of Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem, the first-ever charter school to open in New York.” —The Center for Education Reform Newswire

“A Light Shines in Harlem tracks the tenacity and heroism of a few of the reform movement's earliest and lesser known pioneers.” —The Huffington Post

“At its heart, A Light Shines is the story of an unlikely partnership between a Wall Street hotshot and a Harlem minister, the little-school-that-could they created together on 115th Street, and the path that they’ve charted for educational equity in New York—and across the nation.” —City Journal

“An against-the-odds tale that serves as a window on the charter school debate.” —Scholastic Instructor Magazine