Harvest Network of Schools

Harvest
Network
of
Schools
Report to the
Community
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Class of ‘24
Aces math
Plays the cello
Loves Ode to Joy
93% of our scholars qualify for free or
reduced priced lunch.
100% are expected to succeed.
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this fall. Our 5th through 8th grade scholars are now
excelling in the former Lincoln Community School,
a historic building on Penn Avenue North that had
been shuttered for years. A strong partnership with
Minneapolis Public Schools has made this facilities
expansion possible, and the voices of children echo
through the halls once again.
We also enhanced our professional development
this year. Shaped in part by our teachers, and
incorporating the new Common Core standards,
this enriched training has given our staff a common
understanding of best practices and renewed
sense of teamwork, while giving our scholars the
consistency and rigor they need. Our teachers now
attend school 26 more days than our scholars.
We’re proud to have a racially diverse staff. Nearly
6 in 10 Harvest Network staff are people of color
and many are northside residents. All of our staff,
regardless of background, value and respect
cultural differences and create a rich environment
for our scholars. It’s the people powering the vision
who are transforming this beloved part of the city.
Dear friends,
This has been a year of tremendous growth for the
Harvest Network of Schools, which includes Best
Academy, Harvest Preparatory School, and the
Mastery School.
Of course, none of this growth would be possible
without you, our supporters, our community
partners, and our families. We especially want to
thank the Cargill Foundation for its recent $1.5
million grant in support of our growth as the
Harvest Network and to improve the health and
nutrition of our scholars.
For starters, there’s the name and what it
represents: we’re becoming a charter management
organization – a nonprofit that creates and
manages a group of public charter schools with a
shared educational vision.
This means by July 1, 2015, we’ll have transitioned
some current staff and added new positions to create
a dedicated Harvest Network team. They’ll manage
academics, strategy, operations and administration
so each school’s leaders can focus exclusively on
creating a dynamic learning environment.
This change is also a critical step towards achieving
our 2025 goal of establishing four more schools in
North Minneapolis to educate even more children
to their full potential. Our growth plan is designed
to create a tipping point of educational excellence
in north Minneapolis. Jumpstarting that growth,
due to growing parent interest in Harvest Network
schools, we were thrilled to open a second campus
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The support of our partners is not only a vote of
confidence in our amazing teachers and evidencebased approach, but a vote of confidence in every
single child who walks through our front doors.
Thanks for putting a great education within reach
of our scholars and helping us share our approach
so every child, in every school, can achieve anything
they dream.
Sincerely,
Eric Mahmoud, Founder and CEO
Sylvia Bartley, Chair,
Harvest Network of Schools Board
Mr. Foluke
Master’s in Chemistry
Graduated from
a Harvest school
Learned he had
no limits
Black male scholars at the
Harvest Network exceeded the
white student average at the district and state
levels in math last year. That’s closing the gap!
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our schools
The Harvest Network of Schools is a group of high-performing K-8 public charter
schools, which include Harvest Preparatory School, Best Academy, and the Mastery
School. Together, the schools serve nearly 1,300 predominantly low-income AfricanAmerican scholars, delivering a world-class education, and achieving some of the
state’s highest math and reading proficiency rates for low-income children, English
Language Learners, and children of color.
HARVEST PREPARATORY SCHOOL was established
by Eric and Ella Mahmoud in 1992, after the
success of their SEED Academy preschool. Initially
a private school, it was chartered in 1998 to give
more north Minneapolis children a great education.
BEST ACADEMY opened in 2008 with an initial
focus on educating boys. Since then, two programs
have been added: SISTER Academy, which focuses
on girls’ positive development and academic
success, and Best East, which provides culturally
responsive and ELL education to East African
scholars and their families.
We use proven methods to educate our children to
their full potential. All Harvest Network schools
use a unique “gap-closing framework” focused on
student achievement at the core, supported by
quality teaching, a positive school culture, a longer
school day and longer school year that results in
greater support for student learning.
We’re growing so more children can enjoy the life
opportunities an excellent education brings. Our
goal is to serve a total of 3,800 North Minneapolis
students by the year 2025. That means adding 2,500
new seats to our current enrollment. Imagine if our
community cultivated all of that homegrown talent!
THE MASTERY SCHOOL was established in 2012
in partnership with and authorized by Minneapolis
Public Schools.
The Harvest Network of Schools is widely recognized
for its progress in closing the achievement gap,
Every year since 2011, at least one Harvest Network
school has been named a “Beating the Odds” school
by the Star Tribune for getting great academic
results while serving a high percentage of students
in poverty. Harvest Network schools have also been
identified by COSEBOC (Coalition of Schools
Educating Boys of Color) one of the five best
schools nationally for educating boys of color and
featured on CNN’s Black in America.
93% of our scholars are living in poverty. 100% are
expected to excel. And overwhelmingly they do. In
2014, Harvest Preparatory School outperformed
the Minneapolis district average for both reading
and math and all three schools outperformed the
district in math. Male students at Harvest Network
schools also outperformed the statewide average
for all students and for white students in math that’s more than closing the gap!
Harvest Preparatory School and Best Academy are
authorized by the Audubon Center of the North Woods.
“Smart is not what you are. Smart is what
you become with hard work.”
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Ms. Buckner
Master’s in
Social Work
This Harvest alum
tells scholars:
I’ve been where
you are. I know
you can do this.
K - 8 S c h o o l s in No rt h M in n e apolis 3-year Averag e MMR for 2011-2013
Area Schools
City View
WISE
Lucy Laney
Bethune
Nellie Stone
Hall
Hmong Int’l
Sojurner Truth
New Millenium
Jenny Lind
Bryn Mawr
Noble
Loring
State
7
10
15
17
19
19
20
24
29
33
33
44
45
58
Best Academy
Harvest Prep
80
82
0
20
40
6
60
80
100
our approach
“We don’t have a hardware problem. We have a software
problem. We need to program our children for success.”
There are no limits to our children’s gifts and
capabilities. The only limits we put on them are
our own. When we aim high and bolster them with
love and support, every child can succeed in the
classroom and beyond.
Harvest has learned from those schools, and we’re
proud that others are now learning from us.
At the Harvest Network, our approach is extremely
deliberate. We address what we’ve identified
through 25 years of educational research, analysis,
and experience as the 5 GapsTM that create unequal
outcomes between white and affluent students and
lower-income students of color.
An increasing number of schools in Minnesota
and across the country are educating low-income
children of color, including first-generation
immigrants, to their full potential. They’re not just
beating the odds but raising the bar for everyone.
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TIME GAP - we have a longer
school day and school year.
Our scholars experience more
learning than the typical school.
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2
LEADERSHIP GAP - we empower our
principals as instructional leaders.
TEACHING GAP - we instruct, assess,
reflect: our job isn’t done until scholars
master the skills and material.
PREPARATION GAP - we support early
learning to give kids a strong start.
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BELIEF GAP - we expect success for
and from our scholars.
Every child deserves the best. We show our scholars we believe that by
using proven strategies for their success.
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When people make
what seems to be
impossible possible,
it emboldens all of us.
Class of ‘28
Loves Junie B. Jones
Dreads snow days
Aspiring veterinarian
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Class of ’29 & ‘27
Love chapter
books
Aspiring astronaut
& businessman
accomplishments
SCHOLAR SUCCESS
STAFF LEADERSHIP
»» Graduated 60 scholars ready to excel in high
school
»» Received the 2014 Minneapolis St. Paul
Business Journal’s Diversity in Business award
»» “Beat the Odds” for the fourth consecutive year
(Star Tribune recognition)
»» Welcomed Harvest Network alumni as staff
»» Recognized in 2013 by the Coalition of Schools
Educating Boys of Color as one of the top 5
schools in the nation in educating boys of color
»» Expanded our professional development
program for teachers and principals
»» Increased student and teacher retention rates
GROWTH
PARTNERSHIPS
»» Record student enrollment across the Network
»» Benefited from growing volunteer engagement
»» Opened second campus with 300 middle school
scholars
»» Launched a Harvest Network Parent University
»» Largest fundraising year to date
»» Finalized our five-year business plan, with a
vision to transform north Minneapolis using
education as a lever for change
»» Received generous in-kind support from our
corporate partners
»» Added key positions in external relations, human
capital, and academics
»» Grew partnership with MacPhail Center for
Music (strings lessons for interested scholars)
»» Establishing Harvest Network of Schools as
state’s first charter management organization
»» Played mini-golf on a course our scholars built
with local engineers
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our 2025 vision
HARVEST NETWORK OF SCHOOLS
3800 SCHOLARS
GRADES PREK - 8
MIDDLE SCHOOL I
550 SCHOLARS
MIDDLE SCHOOL II
550 SCHOLARS
GRADES 5-8
GRADES 5-8
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL I
ELEMENTARY ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL II
SCHOOL III
450 SCHOLARS
450 SCHOLARS 450 SCHOLARS 450 SCHOLARS 450 SCHOLARS 450 SCHOLARS
GRADES K-4
GRADES K-4
ELEMENTARY ELEMENTARY ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL IV
SCHOOL V
SCHOOL VI
GRADES K-4
1010
GRADES K-4
GRADES K-4
GRADES K-4
+ PREK
+ PREK
+ PREK
Harvest Network of Schools is transforming north Minneapolis
using education as a lever. Come visit us for a tour to learn more!
SOCIAL
EDUCATIONAL
ECONOMIC
WEIGHT OF
DESPAIR
HARVEST NETWORK
OF SCHOOLS
NORTH
MINNEAPOLIS
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our partners
Your support is a tremendous vote of confidence in every child who walks
through our doors. Thank you!
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CONTRIBUTORS
Donations made to Harvest Preparatory School, Best Academy or the Mastery School
for the period July 1, 2013, to date.
INDIVIDUALS
CORPORATE SUPPORT
Rob Albright
Best Buy
An anonymous Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation
Boston Scientific
Nancy Anderson
Cargill Foundation
Christina Ashford
General Mills Community Action
Alfred Babington-Johnson
Mortenson Family Foundation
Sylvia Bartley
Public Strategies Group
Shelley Carthen-Watson
Target
John F. Eisberg and Susan Kline
Charitable Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation
Xcel Energy
FOUNDATIONS
Nerita Hughes
Marvin and Betty Borman Foundation
Ezra Hyland
Bush Foundation Directors Fund
of the Minnesota Community Foundation
Karen Kelley-Ariwoola Fund of The Minneapolis
Foundation
I.A. O’Shaughnessy Foundation
Grace Lachica
Monitors Foundation Fund
of The Minneapolis Foundation
Eric Mahmoud
Dick and Joyce H. McFarland Family Fund
of The Minneapolis Foundation
The Minneapolis Foundation
Pan African Community Endowment
of the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners
Wisdom Mawusi
Brenda J. McDaniel
Jay and Rose Phillips Foundation
Barbara Milon
Sauer Children’s Renew Foundation
David Milton
Smikis Foundation
Kimberly and Stafford Nelson
Soran Foundation
Lawrencina Oramalu
Terhuly Foundation
Margery Otto
WEM Foundation
Jean Quam
Margie and Phil Soran
OTHER SOURCES OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Robbie and Patti Soskin
Charter School Growth Fund
Ben and Mary Whitney
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Sigma Pi Phi - Omicron Boule’
State of Minnesota
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS
African American Read In
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Sylvia Bartley, Ph.D., Chair
Senior Global Marketing Manager, Medtronic
African American Leadership Forum
Audubon Center of The North Woods
Ben Whitney, Vice Chair
General Partner, Argus Management
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Norman J. Baer, Secretary
Attorney, Anthony Ostlund Baer & Louwagie P.A.
Boston Scientific
Brakins and Associates
Robbie Soskin, Treasurer
Entrepreneur
Carlson Companies
Charter School Partners
Alfred Babington-Johnson
CEO the Stairstep Initiative Companies
CliftonLarsonAllen
EJ Henderson Youth Foundation
Kathleen Fowke
Realtor, Lakes Sotheby’s
EMPOWER: Education Matters: Parents
Organized & Working for Education Reform
General Mills
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
Greater Twin Cities United Way Accreditation
Facilitation Project
Eric Mahmoud, Founder and President/CEO
Dr. Ella Mahmoud, Founder and Executive Director,
Seed, Inc.
Junior Achievement
MacPhail Center for Music
Dr. Callie Lalugba, Chief Academic Officer
Men of March
Karen Kelley-Ariwoola, Chief Officer of
External Relations
Minneapolis Public Schools
Minnesota Business Partnership
Shana Ford, Chief Officer of Administration and
Human Capital
NorthPoint Health and Wellness
Emily Peterson, Director of Operations and
Student Support Services
Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ)
Second Harvest/Meals4Minds
Wilhemenia Buckner, Executive Assistant to the
President/CEO
Summit OIC
Target
Teach For America
Thomson Reuters
Xcel Energy
Wayman AME Church
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Harvest Network
of Schools
1300 Olson Memorial Hwy
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55411
(612) 876-4105
www.harvestnetworkofschools.org