2009 Charter Public Schools Essay Contest - Center for School Change at Macalester College

Several hundred parents, grandparent, students, educators and family friends recently gathered on the Minnesota State Capitol steps to honor outstanding student writers from grades K-12. More than 1,100 essays were submitted, and approximately 35 essays were selected for honors in the 5th annual Minnesota Charter School Writing Contest. Senator Sandy Pappas, Representative Carlos Mariani and Alice Seagren, Minnesota Commissioner praised the students for their fine work and encouraged the young people to challenge themselves. Kao Kalia Yang, recent winner of two statewide Minnesota Writing Awards, spoke with the students and their guests about the value of writing. Several TV stations, a radio station and the Star Tribune carried stories about the grand prize winner of the contest (please see links below). The contest was co-sponsored by TCF Foundation, which provided cash awards to the winning students, Charter School Partners, and the Center for School Change. As in previous years, the winners came to the State Capitol steps during National Charter Public School week.

(K-2nd grade): Imagine that President Obama, who supports strong charter public schools, is going to visit your school. What is one thing you would tell him that the school does well, and one thing that you think the school should improve?

(3rd-12th grade): Imagine that President Obama, who supports strong charter public schools, is going to visit your school. What is one thing you would tell him that the school does well, and one thing that you think the school should improve? What can students in your school do to help make the necessary improvement?

A portion of President Barack Obama's proclamation was distributed: "...We must ensure that all students receive a high-quality education that delivers the knowledge and skills needed to succeed, and that young men and women stay on the path to graduation and a life-long commitment to learning.

Many successful public charter schools across the Nation are working to meet these goals. Founded by parents, teachers, and civic or community organizations, our Nation's public charter schools enjoy broad leeway to innovate.

The best public charter schools and their students are thriving in States that have adopted a rigorous selection and review process to ensure that autonomy is coupled with greater accountability. The growth of effective public charter schools benefits our children, and States have an important role to play in their expansion.

During National Charter Schools Week, we recognize these public charter schools for their dedication and commitment to achievement in education. They are models of excellence and are promoting the interests of our children, our economy, and our Nation as a whole.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 3 through May 9, 2009, as National Charter Schools Week. I commend our Nation's successful public charter schools, teachers, and administrators, and I call on States and communities to support public charter schools and the students they serve." A full copy of President Obama's proclamation can be found at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-National-Charter-Schools-Week/.

Below are copies of the prize winning essays, pictures of the prize winning students, a link to the KARE 11 TV story that appeared, and the Star Tribune newspaper story that appeared.

Sure, he had some setbacks, but Shavaughnta Carter, 12, of St. Paul persevered. And when it came time to write an essay, he took the story of his family, and his optimism, right to President Obama.

By MARY LYNN SMITH, Star Tribune, May 6, 2009, p. 1B

For at least today, 12-year-old Shavaughnta Carter will stand in the limelight on the State Capitol steps and be recognized for his award-winning writing.

The St. Paul sixth-grader bested 1,100 other students in a statewide essay contest for charter schools and won the grand prize: $50 and 15 minutes of fame.

"He's had some tough living situations," said Ken Olson, one of Shavaughnta's teachers. "But he's a very strong person. He perseveres."

Shavaughnta, a student at Concordia Creative Learning Academy, plays basketball and rides the old bike he put together. He plays on a neighborhood football team. And he believes what his mother has told him: Anything is possible.

When he struggled for a moment over how to begin his assigned essay, Shavaughnta simply wrote: "Dear President Obama."

The words streamed onto the paper, and a story emerged between the lines.

"I just had a house fire last year and that took everything from me," he wrote.

Shavaughnta was working in the yard with his mother and 7-year-old sister when they saw flames in the upstairs bedroom window.

Within minutes, the house he had lived in for nine years was gone, including his cherished video games, clothes and all the stories he had written. The family salvaged a few belongings.

"We were homeless and I was crying every single day," said Elissa Wright, Shavaughnta's mother. The family moved more than a half-dozen times over as many months, staying in hotels, shelters and the homes of relatives and friends, she said. The family dog, Champ, had to be sent to a new home.

"I cried because I didn't know what to do," Wright said. Shavaughnta said, "That's okay Mom, I'll do it."

"He moved a big couch, chairs and boxes..." she said. "Without him, I couldn't survive."

The family watches out for one another, she said.

"He makes sure I take my medicine for my diabetes every morning," Wright said. Last summer, she passed out while driving, she said, and Shavaughnta somehow pulled the car to the side of the road and gave Wright her insulin.

Shavaughnta helps cook, clean, and do the laundry. He irons his sister's clothes and helps her with homework. "It doesn't really bother me," he said, shrugging off the household duties.

The letter

In his letter to Obama, he simply said: "I've had a good life behind and in front of me."

Shavaughnta let the president know that he worked in a local Obama campaign office during the election. "A lot of people said 'yes' because you were a black person, some said 'no' because you were a black person, I'm thinking you are 'good' person."

With that said, Shavaughnta had a few favors to ask the president. "I love my school," he wrote. "If you come, all you have to do is go to the office and announce my name on the loud speaker and I will come down and congratulate you and we can take a trip all around the school."

Or, the president could invite Shavaughnta to the White House. "That would be so cool."

"I forgot to tell you," Shavaughnta added. "Can you stop the war? I will thank you a lot for that."

Mary Lynn Smith • 612-673-4788

www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=679907&catid=14