Rahshene Davis, principal of University Heights Charter School in Newark, was honored Friday as the “Charter School Administrator of the Year” at the New Jersey Charter Schools Association (NJCSA) Annual Conference in Princeton.
The two-day conference in Princeton, attended by more than 500 hundred educators, parents and supporters of New Jersey’s growing charter school movement, spotlighted the many achievements of the state’s 73 charter schools and featured discussions among state and national leaders about how charter schools are transforming public education.
“It really took a village to get University Heights to where it is today. I am accepting this award for the whole University Heights community,” Davis said. “It is great to see the mission come together. With the children, it is a struggle some days. But we’ve gotten to where we need to be.”
Davis was among a select group of educators to receive the Cultivating Quality Education Awards for contributions in 2010. Winners were selected by an independent panel of three outside judges.
Another award for “Administrator of the Year” went to Fiona Thomas, the principal of Pride Academy Charter School in East Orange. Recognized as “Advocate of the Year” was Daniel Weisz of Hoboken Charter School; recognized for “Teacher of the Year” was Nikki Jones, an eighth-grade English teacher at North Star Academy Charter School in Newark.
“Rahshene Davis reflects the strong commitment, involvement and passion that makes charter schools successful,” said Carlos Perez, president & CEO of the NJCSA. “This award honors Rahshene for doing her part to enhance public education and helping ensure that all public schools are quality schools.”
The award was presented to Davis by Mashea Ashton, the CEO of the Newark Charter School Fund and a member of the NJCSA board. Misha Simmonds, executive director of University Heights Charter School, nominated Davis for the award.
Davis is considered a key to the remarkable turn-around at University Heights since spring 2008, when the school ranked 57 out of 58 Newark district and charter schools on standardized test scores for students in grades 3 and 4. In response, the state Department of Education placed the school under probation.
Davis was hired and worked with Simmonds to change the culture in the school. “Ms. Davis dramatically raised expectations for student character, scholarship and leadership,” Simmonds said. “Students and parents would be accountable for coming to school in uniform, on-time and with homework complete. Everyone would have a growth mindset where failure and difficulty would only be used as feedback to get better.”
Specifically, Davis met with teachers in small groups each week to continue professional development. She tracked each child’s reading level on a wall-size chart in her office. She met with parents daily to reinforce expectations. She expressed the urgency of closing the achievement gap in a school that is 80 percent low income and 100 percent minority.
As a result, test scores soared. University Heights now ranks 13th out of 58 city district and charter schools serving grades 3 and 4. There are now three applications for every open seat.
“Rahshene Davis is the key to this dramatic school turnaround,” Simmonds said. “In less than two years, her vision and dedication transformed a failing school into a model of reform.”
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