The Answer - A blog about Education, Preparation, and Commitment.

Letters from YES Prep parents

September 27, 2010 by Jeremy Jones

Being highlighted on Oprah last week opened up people’s eyes to what we have been doing as an organization for students for up to 12 years now. However, being on that national stage not only reawakened people in our community as to what we are accomplishing in Houston (see the Op Ed in Thursday’s Chronicle - http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/7213614.html but also reignited our parents in recognizing what we do every day for our students. Below are some emails and a voicemail transcript from our Maverick parents all received this week showcasing examples that what all of you do on a daily basis though sometimes unheralded does not in the end go unseen or unfelt:

An email to SW:

I thank you deeply for your commitment to the students and the school and your willingness

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The Morning After: Reflections on Oprah’s Million Dollar Gift

September 22, 2010 by Ryan Dolibois

I was thrilled to open up the Houston Chronicle this morning and see a YES Prep student on the front page, right next to our $1 million check from Oprah’s Angel Network. It has certainly been an exciting 24 hours for the entire YES Prep family! We have received a number of congratulatory emails and phone calls and also a number of questions about how all of this happened. I thought it would be fun to pull the back the curtain and provide some more context:

How was YES Prep selected for the show? Did YES have to apply to receive the gift?

Just over a month ago, a producer from Oprah’s show contacted our Director of Communications, Jill Willis, after watching a clip of Secretary of Education Arne Duncan speaking at our Senior Signing Day ceremony. Over the month, our team stayed in

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YES Prep hosts Deans of Admissions from the Nation’s Most Selective Colleges

September 21, 2010 by Donald Kamentz

At this time of year, fall in the admissions cycle world consists of hosting colleges who conduct high school visits for prospective students.   Last week at YES Prep was no different as our four high school campuses – Southeast, North Central, Southwest and East End – hosted over 20 colleges and universities on their campus.   In fact, by the end of this fall season, YES Prep Public Schools will host well over 250+ colleges and universities between individual high school visits and our district-wide college fair – a true testament to the widespread support YES Prep has nationally.

However, last Monday, YES Prep hosted a different type of visit – a roundtable discussion and visit by 4 of the most selective and prestigious colleges from the East – Swarthmore College (Philadelphia,

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Oprah’s Angel Network Gives $1 Million to YES Prep Public Schools

September 20, 2010 by Jeremy Jones

YES Prep Public Schools was surprised with a check for $1 million on The Oprah Winfrey Showduring a special education segment during the show’s Farewell Season. Oprah invited YES Prep to join the show to recognize the school system as a model public school for our nation. Oprah shows a highlight reel of YES Prep and invites CEO Chris Barbic and YES Prep alum and teacher Melanie Singleton on stage and surprises them with a $1 million check from Oprah’s Angel Network.

The show’s other highlights include a discussion on WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN”,a documentary that follows children throughout the United States who are in the process of trying to get a great American education, in spite of the waitlists to enroll in great American schools. Other guests on the show include the

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YES Prep Southwest State of the Seniors Speeches

September 11, 2010 by Jeremy Jones

This week in YES Prep Southwest Senior English teacher Faith Hunter's classes the Seniors delivered their State of the Senior Class speeches. Below are additional snippets from these great orations!

 "‘A sympathetic friend can be quite dear as a brother’, the great Homer once said. We began as friends and have now grown to be brothers. So I challenge you today. I challenge you to go forward and consciously make an effort to make all forty six of your brothers and sisters feel

like a brother or sister that has your support. Though we may fight like brothers and sisters at times, siblings never give up on each other." – Ruby Serrano

 "This is our school…et’s own our campus. Ask not what your school can do for you—but ask what you can do for your school." – Jairus Coleman