Partnership For Los Angeles Schools And Revolution Prep Team Up For A Day Of Service To Transform Jordan High School Campus

After years of struggling to increase student academic achievement, Jordan High School joined the Partnership for Los Angeles School’s (www.partnershipLA.org) network earlier this month. Under the Partnership’s leadership the school will undergo a series of sweeping changes to transform Jordan into a college-preparatory campus. Those changes kicked off today with a dramatic facelift compliments of Revolution Prep, (www.revolutionprep.com) an education software and services provider who’s entire staff volunteered for the day, including 80 employees nationwide who were flown in for the event.

LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia and Deputy Mayor of Education Joan Sullivan were both on hand to celebrate the campus updates and to thank all the volunteers who helped make the day possible.

“Turning around low-performing schools means turning around entire neighborhoods. The Mayor’s strategy isn’t just to address low achievement and graduation rates, but to build strong schools that will serve as anchors for strong neighborhoods,” commented Joan Sullivan, Los Angeles Deputy Mayor of Education. “When more students graduate, not only do they contribute to their communities, but crime rates drop, local economies grow, opportunities increase, and neighborhoods thrive.”

LAUSD Board President, Mónica García added, “The work being undertaken here is part of the LAUSD’s greater strategy to turn around the City’s lowest performing schools. It is very reassuring to see businesses like Revolution Prep, the Partnership and the community working collectively to support our children’s future.”

Every year Revolution Prep affirms its social mission by partnering with a local school to conduct a day of on-campus service. This year, Revolution Prep teamed up with the Partnership to help improve the facilities at Jordan High. Hundreds of volunteers from Revolution Prep, the Partnership, the Mayor’s Office and community organizations lent a helping hand to complete projects that include landscaping, installing new sports equipment and repainting recreation areas, building picnic tables, painting an inspirational wall, and the creation of a gigantic world atlas in the quad area to name a few of the projects completed at the all-day event.

“It’s no secret that a student’s environment plays a vital role in how well they learn. Making these cosmetic improvements to the campus is just one of the many steps we plan to take to instill a sense of school pride and community engagement, which we expect will translate into improved academics,” said Marshall Tuck, Partnership for LA Schools CEO. “In addition, we’ve hired a star principal, Sherri Williams, whose record of success and deep-rooted connection to the community will help reform the school.”

Prior to Jordan, Williams was Principal at 99th St. Elementary where she led the school to increases of 106 points on California’s API, dramatically increased parent engagement, and chartered the school’s successful effort to engage the community through her strong ties to the Watts Community, which she has developed throughout her nearly 30-year career with LAUSD.

“As part of our work with the Partnership we’re always looking to see what we can do. This day is one way we give back and support their efforts,” commented Revolution Prep Co-Founder, Jake Neuberg. “It’s a great experience and we encourage other businesses to seek out a school in their area and see what they can do to help.”

On July 1st of 2011 Partnership for LA Schools assumed management of half of Jordan High School as part of the Public School Choice. Green Dot Public Schools has retained management of the second half of the school.

About the Partnership:

The Partnership for Los Angeles Schools was founded in 2007 as the cornerstone of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s strategy to improve education in Los Angeles. It is a unique collaboration between the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Unified School District to turn around LA’s lowest performing schools and to create a model for doing so district wide. The largest non-district school operator in Los Angeles, the Partnership today manages 21 schools with approximately 18,000 students and 1,500 employees. The Partnership is a 501(c) 3 non-profit education management organization with nearly 30 employees. For more info: www.PartnershipLA.org

About Revolution Prep:

Founded in 2002, Revolution Prep is an education software and services provider that has helped over a hundred thousand students score higher on the SAT, ACT and other high-stakes exams. In 2006 the Revolution K12 division was created to increase academic performance and proficiency through web-based, adaptive learning software created especially for schools. Revolution’s core mission is to transform education by leveraging technology to provide innovative tools that help students excel and reach their goals.

For further information please contact:

Helene Vece with JumpStart Ink for Revolution Prep
(702) 409 -1282 Media Line

or
Luz Maria Castellanos with PartnershipLA.org
(323) 574-2863