The Center for Education Reform 20th Anniversary Gala
by Mark Lerner
Examiner.com
October 11, 2013
My wife Michele and I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Center for Education Reform’s 20th anniversary Gala and Awards Show Wednesday evening. The Washington Hilton ballroom was filled with a who’s who of education reformers on both the local scene and national stage. At one end of the room was Kevin Chavous, Michelle Bernard, and Chester Finn while at the other was Joe Bruno and Brian Jones. Josh Kern joined us as did Lisa Graham Keegan, who was recently inducted into the National Charter Schools Hall of Fame. Also in attendance was my hero Donald Hense. The event was indeed a celebration as eight individuals were honored for their groundbreaking work in improving public education for those who, because of their low economic status, are the least able to be able to fight for themselves.
But the night was also bittersweet. The men assembled in black-ties and the women in formal gowns knew that together we were marking the end of an era. For it was at this moment in time that Jeanne Allen was stepping down as president of the Center for Education Reform, the school choice support organization she founded twenty years ago. How perfectly appropriate, then, that her husband, Dr. Kevin Strother, sang our National Anthem with passion usually reserved for our most solemn occasions.
The master of ceremonies for the program was none other than Michael Musante, the government relations expert for Friends of Choice in Urban Schools (FOCUS). Based upon his performance at the Gala I really think he should consider changing jobs. He moved through the crowd as if he was floating on air, sometimes telling jokes, other times singing classic Frank Sinatra songs with the assurance that comes from an experienced nightclub professional. After all you have to have talent if you are able to pull off “Mack the Knife” with credibility bestowed by the outstanding SunRay Orchestra. Among the others who sang beautifully at the event was Bob Bowden, producer of the exceptional movie “The Cartel.”
Those recognized included Yvonne Chan, Barbara Dreyer, William Bennett, James, Janis, and Tracy Gleason, Deborah McGriff, and Michael Moe. You can read their biographies here. Each award was preceded by the performance of a classic song made famous by the Ratpack. Included in the program was a well-produced slide show of reformers who are no longer with us because they have passed away moderated by Ms. Allen and Mr. Chavous. I very much appreciated Mr. Chavous’ discussion of the prominent role Joseph E. Robert, Jr. played in his understanding of the value of private school vouchers in education reform.
There were a couple of highlights for me. Hearing Bill Bennett speak was a privilege. The former U.S. Department of Education Secretary addressed the crowd with such authority and confidence that it made us feel uniformly proud that we were engaged in the struggle to let parents decide where they can send their children to school. His one sentence summary of the overriding public policy mission in public education as “determining who gets to teach and what do they teach when they are there” immediately ceased any stray conversation in the ballroom.
The other noticeable theme of the event was the words offered by presenters and awardees about the work of Jeanne Allen. It may be impossible for many to grasp now but when the idea of school choice was first promoted as a means to fixing our failing public schools most people thought the idea was crazy. It was crystal clear from the remarks that Ms. Allen literally held the hand and supported the back of those brave people who paved the way for the creation of the charter and private school voucher movements so prevalent in America today. The fact that so many of these programs now seem commonplace is the highest accolade that can be bestowed to this fine individual.
A Reflection of CER’s 20th Anniversary
The Center for Education Reform (CER) conference room is filled beyond capacity with white polka dot boxes and there is a consistent assembly line in progress to tie the beautiful red bows atop the boxes. The guest list is checked over and over and over again to ensure it is correct. After the last couple of months of precise planning by the CER team, it all comes together on October 14, 2013 for an extraordinary day to commemorate CER’s 20th Year Anniversary.
The conference was infused with a plethora of significant advocates of education reform, yet the reaffirmation that grassroots organizations can in fact have great impact on an issue was enough to recharge my hope for education reform. The passion and fervor that leaders such as Janet Barresi, Bill Manning and the many others who were in attendance had when they spoke about education reform was powerful and inspiring. It was especially helpful in a field that can often get discouraging by the bureaucracy that exist and the hoops that must be jumped through when trying to make effective change in the education system.
I also enjoyed the panel discussion entitled “Changing the Complexion.” Dr. Howard Fuller spoke profound words about the inclusion of minorities within the education reform field. He stated that while it is important to change the complexion of those involved in the dialogue around education reform, it does not end there. If those individuals are not given the power to actively employ education reform policies within their communities, then changing the completion has no real benefit. As a minority woman of color, I seek to not only change the complexion of the discussion but also of what those in power look like. I hope to also empower suffering communities to use available resources such as CER and make meaningful change.
For me, the gala was a defining moment of the impact CER has had for the past 20 years and continues to have on the conversation and implementation of education reform. During both the Conference and Gala, countless individuals spoke of the great influence both the Center for Education Reform has offered them and the tireless ally Jeanne has been. It was also symbolic of how other individuals and organizations can come together and work for a common cause and create a revolution around the county.
Overall, I am so grateful to be interning at a wonderful organization that has made so much of an impact in the education field. I truly enjoyed the opportunity to learn a little bit more about the history of CER.