Posted by BEN BEAUMONT – Last week’s Delta trip included a tour of the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) School on historic Cherry Street in downtown Helena. From the teachers to the students that we encountered in our brief visit, it is obvious that the school has successfully created an energetic learning environment. For those who don’t know about KIPP schools, they are open-enrollment, mostly charter schools that cater to underserved populations. The KIPP School in Helena now serves grades 5-10 and will eventually extend to 12th grade and graduate its first full class in 2010.
The KIPP School not only attracts diverse students, but also teachers from all over the country. Current Clinton School student Sanford Johnson is a former Social Studies teacher at Helena’s KIPP School, where he was located through the popular Teach for America Program. In fact, many of the teachers there are current participants or alumni of Teach for America.
Our tour guides were two sharp KIPP School 10th graders, Domonique Bragg and Casey Perry. Not only were the students up on the facts, figures and mission of KIPP, but they were also highly interested in the presidential campaigns. End-of-the-year KIPP field trips they’ve taken to colleges across the country have them each contemplating various higher education options. Casey is interested in the University of Arkansas, Auburn University and the University of Texas, while Domonique has her sights set on the University of Chicago. Coincidently, both were former students of Johnson’s, and both relished the current events portion of his class.
After the taking the tour, it’s easy to see that KIPP is making a positive contribution to the Helena community. Through students like Casey and Dominique, and teachers like Mr. Johnson, the school is keeping talent in while bringing it to the Arkansas Delta.
Students Dominque Bragg and Casey Perry with former KIPP teacher Sanford Johnson (Center) of the Clinton School.