Gibbons: Education inequity 'appalling'

Nancy Mitchell, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 17, 2007 at midnight

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Chris Gibbons, 29, attended private schools growing up in Littleton and Denver before graduating from Yale University with a degree in biology. He came back to Denver to run a program called Denver Summerbridge, a tutoring program for low-income kids that sparked his interest in teaching. Two falls ago, he opened West Denver Prep, a school that embraces uniforms, nightly homework and a culture of high expectations. State test results show the school outperformed district averages in its first year. So why is someone with a middle-class background and an Ivy League degree running a school serving mostly Hispanic, mostly poor children on Denver's west side?

"I really believe education is the biggest social justice issue facing our country right now. I think the inequity of the education gap across race and class lines is both really significant and really appalling.

I feel grateful I got a great education. I really believe in public education. Knowing how much that education had an impact on me makes me passionate about everyone, regardless of color and income, having access to those opportunities.

I think the privileges and opportunities I have had carry a certain responsibility . . . the 'To whom much is given, much is required' sort of thing.

The structure, 'warm strict,' is the best way to get kids prepared for high levels of academic performance in a short period of time. It's similar to the idea of tough love. When I was out recruiting teachers for Summerbridge, I would ask, 'Do you love kids enough to hold them accountable?'

I don't believe the school is for every kid. That said, I think the increased structure creates opportunities for freedom and creativity. Once safety is in place, a lot of other things can happen. And I think it's in line with what parents want.

I have always had an affinity for Latino culture, from learning the language and from traveling to South America in college. I have always found a cultural value around warmth and inclusion and hospitality. I really enjoy in the Latino culture. Our first Summerbridge schools were in west Denver, so I've been working in this neighborhood off and on for the past 10 years.

I love my job. I love coming to work every day. I've never had a day here where I didn't feel like I'm really, really lucky to be here and excited to be doing this kind of work.

There are definitely days where, at the end of the day, I take a walk through the building and I'm like, 'Wow, we have a school.' "

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