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

How I Survived My First Year Teaching at YES Prep

June 14, 2011 by Laura Clare Somers

It was a sunny day in April when I got the call from Phil Wright, the fearless YES Prep Southeast Campus School Director, congratulating me on being chosen for a teaching position. I jumped for joy – well, as much as my tiny cubicle at my previous job would allow - because this was my dream job, at my dream school. I would finally have the chance to become a math teacher and serve motivated and inspiring students in a low-income area. Once over the initial excitement, the next question was: “Now what?”

It turns out, when you sign on as a first year teacher at YES Prep, there is a whole lot of “what.” I was soon contacted by leaders of Teaching Excellence, the wonderful alternative certification and teacher coaching team that supports all first year YES Prep teachers. I was to attend

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YES Prep Teacher Wins Teach For America Symantec Innovation in Teaching Award

May 16, 2011 by Jeremy Jones

YES Prep North Central teacher, 6th Grade Level Chair and Teach For America Alumna, Erica Bundy, was awarded the Teach For America and Symantec Innovation in Teaching Award at the 2011 Teach For America Alumni Induction Dinner.  We are excited to celebrate this accomplishment with Erica.  Below is some more information about her award and how she earned it.  I asked Erica about her reaction to winning this award and Bundy said, "I was really surprised that I won. EXTREMELY surprised. It feels really great to be a part of something where excellence is acknowledged. Sometimes we work so hard at YES Prep and we forget this isn’t the norm in other schools or other places. It made me feel really special to know that hard work not only is good for kids, but it is appreciated by the

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YES Prep Ranks in the Top Ten of Houston Chronicle’s Annual School Report Card

April 18, 2011 by Chris Barbic

Yesterday, the Houston Chronicle and Children at Risk released their annual School Report Card. We were thrilled to see that YES Prep Southeast was once again ranked a top ten high school in Houston, placing sixth on the list. YES Prep has been ranked on this list ever since Children At Risk and the Houston Chronicle first teamed up to create it. Starting last year, the rankings also began including the top middle schools in Houston. ALL of our eligible campuses ranked in the top 25—on a list that includes over 265 area schools. We were particularly excited to see our YES Prep Southwest campus ranked 5th on this list. As the national debate about public education and charter schools continues, we were also pleased to see that four of the top ten schools on the list were state and

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April Unbalance will Bring May Exemplary Ratings

April 04, 2011 by Jeremy Jones

Since April is a month at YES Prep that is inherently unbalanced and since as of last Friday we are, as hard as it is to believe, already in the month of April, this short essay on balance by Mark Buchanan seemed especially appropriate. Big Shout Out to Robert McBurnett, our CFO, for finding it and sending it our way!

I have long believed that “balance” is a mirage that we chase wanting to believe it will satisfy our longings, but it is illusory. Our age has its own cherished myths, and one of the most hypnotic is the myth of balance. I hear it everywhere, from old and young, city dwellers and country folk, carpenters and lawyers, students and homemakers. Everyone seeks balance. Everyone longs for that magical combining of rest and play and work that, once found, will make life

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yBlazer Studios Releases New Short: Building Classroom Culture with Jamie Elfenbein of YES Prep

March 31, 2011 by Jeremy Jones

YES Prep West 6th grade ELA teacher and all-around amazing person, Jamie Elfenbein was recently featured in a YES Prep yBlazer Studios video produced by teacher Craig Brandenburg.  One theme we wanted to highlight with Jamie was her ability to build spirit and family in her classroom which I think this video does a good job showing.  However, if you ever get the chance to visit her classroom, you should see it

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