Thank you for supporting great principals

One such leader is Sabrina Pence of Arthur Ashe Charter School. When she arrived as a principal in training in 2008, Arthur Ashe was one of the lowest-performing schools in New Orleans. The school had the lowest fourth-grade scores in the city and was under “academic
watch” by the Recovery School District.

Working under the leadership of New Leader Principal Aqua Stovall, Sabrina helped transform the culture and student achievement at Arthur Ashe. The very next year, Arthur Ashe had the highest academic gains in the district, and for the five years since then, the school has averaged gains of more than 22 percentage points. Remarkably, the transformation at Ashe occurred while it was growing from a 4th- to 6th-grade middle school into a K-8 school with one of the city’s largest populations of students with special needs. In fact, at over 20%, Ashe has one of the highest populations of students with special needs in the city as parents apply to Ashe based on its reputation as a school that will provide a high-quality education for every student.

One of the keys to Sabrina’s success has been the implementation of Personalized Learning Projects, which raise student achievement by significantly increasing computer-assisted instruction during the school day to provide more personalized learning experiences for students. Utilizing computer-assisted English and math programs, students learn at their own pace and focus on their particular learning needs. Computer-assisted instruction also provides teachers with daily information on students’ progress that can better inform learning supports. Computer assisted instruction benefits students who are ahead of the class as well as students with special needs.

In 2011, Sabrina succeeded Aqua Stovall as principal, and by 2013, the Arthur Ashe eighth graders posted the highest English scores in the district; the previous year, they outperformed all district schools in math. Perhaps most impressively, last year, Ashe’s eighth-graders–the same kids whose fourth-grade scores were the lowest in the city–boasted the highest math scores of any open-admissions school in New Orleans. Their math proficiency score of 93% was also the third highest in the entire city, close behind two schools with highly selective admissions policies.

Every student in New Orleans deserves a principal like Sabrina – one who believes in their potential regardless of the challenges they face. New Leaders is committed to the belief that supporting education is the most important thing we can do for our children and for our country–and that making sure every school has a great leader and leadership team is the best way to start. This school year, thanks to your support, we are training 19 future principals like Sabrina right here in New Orleans with the same grit and determination to see their students succeed no matter what. Thank you for joining us and supporting this work.