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Interview: Steve P. Jefferson, Author of 'Charter Schools: A Descriptive Study of Empowerment'
Published: Sun, 5 Dec 2004, 12:08 EST
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By Beverly West
Staff Writer, Publishers Newswire
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An interview with the author of a new book that takes an in-depth look at two charter schools, one in a rural community and the other in an urban community and compares the variables which made both schools successful, and outlines the vital variables needed to establish a school that meets the educational needs of today's students.
Q: Can you tell us a little something about the subject of your book?
Jefferson: My book is about empowerment within Charter Schools and how this is a vital factor to improving the academic success of today's young people.
Q: What is the overall message of your book, if you can sum it up in a few words...
I guess I want to say that any community in America can improve their children's educational goals by incorporating the strategies of community empowerment, the Montessori theory of education, brain research, and high expectations into their curriculums. Many of our children are not performing up to their potential in school. We find that public school students are graduating from high school and are not proficient in English or Math.
Many of today's public schools have turned into institutions that do not challenge students. Worksheets are generated on a daily basis and many teachers have students copy their assignments from the blackboard. This creates an educational environment that is boring to the students. The two charter schools I researched engaged their students in "real life" activities and made the students responsible for their own learning.
Q: Why did you want to write this book?
Jefferson: I want to demonstrate by using research that was data driven that if you involve parents, teachers, and community leaders as stakeholders in the educational process, students will improve their academic endeavors.
Q: What is your background in education?
Jefferson: I have been teaching students' with learning disabilities for the past 10 years. In addition, I have conducted many training for school districts in differentiated instruction and have created curriculum that addresses these areas.
Q: Why do you think it is important for this book to be read at this time?
Jefferson: This book is timely in that the field of education needs a face-lift. For more than 40 years, the public school system has not been challenged by any outside agencies. The public school system is truly operating like its 1964! Few changes have been made to the way we educate children or the curriculum in today's classroom.
Children's minds are challenged on their way to school with portable video games, only to be greeted by teacher with information found on the blackboard. This type of instruction format will not get the job done for our students.
Q: Have you had any feedback from your colleagues?
Jefferson: I have received several reviews from teachers and educators that truly agree with many of the books suggestions. This makes me very happy as I would like this book to be used by educators, and by college students training to become teachers and administrators.
Q: Do you / did you hold any workshops, lectures, or seminars in connection with your book?
Jefferson: Yes! I am currently a guest lecturer at National University and also lecturer at numerous school districts in the Los Angeles area on differentiated instruction and brain research.
Q: What are you working on now?
Jefferson: I have two books coming out in December. The first book is called, "Saving Our Public School" and will be released in December. The other book is entitled, "Success Ed: Curriculum Strategies for ESL and Learning Disabled Students."
Q: Where can we buy your book?
Jefferson: This book, "Charter Schools: A Descriptive Study of Empowerment within the Operation of Charter Schools" (ISBN: 1-58112-218-7 paperback, 108pp) is currently available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. In addition, the ebook is available at Amazon.com for only $9.00.
Q: Do you have any advice for other authors?
Jefferson: It is important that you have the determination to complete your project. Many times, obstacles come up and you get discouraged and abandon a great idea. Nobody can predict what will sell or what will not.
If you have the determination to complete your project no matter how many obstacles are against you, some one will see this effort and jump aboard the bandwagon.
* * *
Steve P. Jefferson, Ed. D, serves the Los Angeles Unified School District as a Resource Specialist Coordinator. For greater than ten years, Dr. Jefferson has taught and developed teacher training programs on behavior intervention strategies for students labeled emotionally disturbed. He has been a guest lecturer on differentiated instruction and learning styles at a number of secondary schools and has conducted workshops on brain research at various school districts and colleges in Los Angeles.
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