Tyson Kane, principal at Chicago Bulls College Prep High School in Chicago, received the Ryan Award for exceptional leadership in closing the achievement gap in urban K-12 schools on June 5. The award includes a $25,000 honorarium and an opportunity to teach his methodologies at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, the Reuters News Agency reports.
Mr Kane is the founding principal at the charter school, part of the growing network of Noble Street charter schools. Since the school first opened its doors in August 2009, all graduates have been accepted at four-year colleges or universities, as the school’s mission is “to redefine the public high school experience in terms of rigor and expectations.” The school describes itself as a pioneer and an innovator, defining students and staff by their “unique approach to academic, cultural, and physical excellence.”
Pat Ryan Jr presented the award at a surprise school assembly, WLS-TV (ABC affiliate) reported. He’s the founder of the Chicago-based Accelerate Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of high-impact urban school leaders who accelerate student achievement.
“We created the Ryan Awards to highlight the leaders of the most successful transformational schools in the country,” Reuters quoted him as saying at the presentation ceremony. “We want to honor these heroes, enlist them as role models, and help current and future principals learn from their successes. Tyson Kane is the embodiment of excellent school leadership.”
The school got its name because it received start-up funding, in part, from the Chicago Bulls Charities. It serves about 1,100 low-income students, primarily from Chicago’s west side.
“We have a strong school culture, and an amazing team,” Mr Kane was quoted as saying. His methodologies include turning every classroom into a student-led discussion forum, “so our students are empowered to learn themselves. … My simple goal is for us to be great. I want this because we work too hard and are too dedicated not to realize it. And our kids deserve it.”
