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

YES Prep Professionals: Service, Leadership, and Socializing

December 15, 2011 by Brittany Baize

We want to thank all of our YES Prep Professionals (YPP) members who brought their friends to our first annual holiday party on Tuesday, December 13th to learn more about how to get involved and support the mission of YES Prep.  Over 50 people attended the celebration at Guadalajara, and, thanks to the dedicated recruitment efforts of our YPP corps, 40 attendees were new faces!  We are well on our way of reaching our big goal: 100 volunteers at our next service day on Saturday, January 28th.

We also want to thank our generous sponsors for this event: Liskow & Lewis and Guadalajara Bar & Grille.

If you missed the holiday party mark your calendar for our biggest YPP recruitment event yet!  On Thursday, January 19th, YPP will be hosting a party at St. Arnold Brewery - complete with

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Teaching Excellence: Why Years in a Classroom Don’t Always Define Great Teachers

December 08, 2011 by Nella Garcia

As the fall school semester comes to a close, teachers from all over Houston are reflecting on their work so far this year.  This is especially true at public charter schools like YES Prep, where our intensive Teaching Excellence program ensures that our novice teachers—up to a third of our overall teaching program—receive the support and development they need to perform well in the classroom.

A recent article in the Huffington Post points to an often heard criticism of charter schools, Teach For America, and of the education reform movement as a whole.  The looming questions proposed in the aforementioned article include:

-    How can inexperienced teachers effectively teach high-risk students, a group that has traditionally needed the most attention and assistance?

-    If

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“Human Talent is Both the Constant and the Differentiator”

August 29, 2011 by Brittany Baize

1,000 educators from YES Prep Public Schools, KIPP: Houston, and Teach For America gathered on Saturday, August 27^thto celebrate their collective impact in Houston public schools.  The celebration honored fifteen Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award winners – who took home a total of $225,000 in cash awards thanks to the generous philanthropy of Nancy and Richard Kinder. 

Among the special guests and speakers was Jeff Cohen, Editor of the Houston Chronicle, as well as families traveling in to surprise the award winners.  The theme of the evening was summed up when Cohen toasted attendees saying, “When it comes to facing challenges, team beats individual. ”  The three organizations collectively educate about 27,000 students in Houston and have redefined the look, feel, and achievement

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YES Prep Alumnus, Pedro Alcaraz, Welcomes New Teachers to YES Prep

July 19, 2011 by Tenesha Villanueva

YES Prep will welcome a strong force of new and veteran teachers this month.  This is the last of 3 letters from YES Prep alumni, welcoming new teachers into the YES Prep family: 

Dear New Teachers,

On behalf of all YES Prep students—former, current, and future—I would like to extend a warm welcome and congratulations! No matter if you are becoming a proud Wizard, Trailblazer, Maverick, Explorer, Cavalier, Force, Legend, or Marvel, one thing is certain: you are now part of a growing family, and this family is hungry for success!

As a former YES Prep student, I can only describe life at YES Prep by its motto: “Whatever It Takes!” When I wasn’t studying for Physics and Chemistry, I was preparing for AP exams. Then there was study hall, tutoring middle school students, student

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YES Prep Alumna, Ruby Serrano, Welcomes New Teachers to YES Prep

July 12, 2011 by Tenesha Villanueva

YES Prep will welcome a strong force of new and veteran teachers this month.  This is the second of 3 letters from YES Prep alumni, welcoming new teachers into the YES Prep family:

 Welcome to YES Prep!

As a former YES Prep student, and now alumni, I would like to formally welcome you as well as congratulate you on becoming a part of one of the best families around!

First off, I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Ruby Serrano, and I am a proud recent graduate of YES Prep Southwest! Being a part of the first graduating class was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I was very excited to complete my journey as well as a little bit sad to leave my Maverick family. Although I am no longer a YES Prep student, my YES family will always be a part of

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