When I was a pastor, I led each of the three churches I served though a similar strategic planning process. The end goal of the process was to have a shared near-term vision for the congregation with goals and plans for the next 3-5 years.
The beginning of the process, though, was always a clear-eyed look at the current reality of the congregation. We would look at measurable things like attendance, membership, and contributions (trends and current) as well as other non-measurable qualities and programs. The idea was that if we looked honestly at the current reality, we would see that many things were not as we wished they were or wanted them to be. And that feeling of dissatisfaction or concern would provoke an energy for and openness to change and growth going forward.
This is the approach we at the Fort Worth Education Partnership have taken to trying to change the trajectory of public education outcomes for kids in Fort Worth. Our message has been about helping our city to look honestly at current reality. See, for example, these recent headlines describing our reports to city leaders:
State tests show most Fort Worth kids are behind in reading. Their parents have no idea: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/education/article279382464.html
‘Right where we left them last year’: Report finds only 1 in 3 Fort Worth students met grade level in 2023: https://fortworthreport.org/2023/09/19/right-where-we-left-them-last-year-report-finds-only-1-in-3-fort-worth-students-met-grade-level-in-2023/
Fort Worth citywide STAAR scores showed no gain over last year, report shows: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/education/article279528539.html
There is a Buddhist thought that accurately perceiving reality is a moral act.
I believe we have a moral obligation to be truthtellers about how our Fort Worth kids are doing academically to help our community accurately perceive the current reality. We can’t continue to close our eyes to the reality that is before us.
There is a profound disconnect between the values our community holds—that every child deserves a quality education and access to opportunities to pursue the life and career of their choosing—and the current reality—where only 36% of students in Fort Worth’s public schools are meeting grade level and only about 10% of low-income students are going on to receive a 2- or 4-year degree after high school.
The truth is that that yawning gap between our values and our reality has the potential to be an activating force. Dissatisfaction—if it doesn’t lead to discouragement— can provide motivation and passion for change.
As awareness of this gap grows in Fort Worth, we are starting to see the energy and movement for change build. Trenace Dorsey-Hollins has founded a parent advocacy organization called Parent Shield that is organizing Fort Worth parents at a grassroots level to work for change in educational outcomes for Fort Worth kids. Fort Worth Families Forward, led by Johamna Hernandez, has organized local charter school parents to flex their muscles as a local voting bloc and make their voices heard about the opportunities they seek for their kids to get a great education.
Last night, I attended a meeting at the United Community Center in Fort Worth’s Polytechnic Heights neighborhood where about 90 parents gathered to hear a presentation about the Go Beyond Grades campaign and learn about resources that can empower them to learn if their child is at grade level, have productive conversations with their child’s teacher, and make a plan to help them catch up if they are behind.
As I prepared to leave the meeting last night, I stopped and listened in for a moment as Fort Worth Education Partnership’s Chief Operating Officer Leila Santillan sat in a folding chair next to a grandmother who was worried about her grandchild being behind in reading and what that means for his future. She was asking Leila for guidance, and Leila was talking to her about how to find out where her grandson is relative to grade level, steps she could take to address the problem, and resources that are available. The last thing I heard was Leila giving her her phone number and email address so she could contact her with questions.
It was a quiet moment, a quiet conversation between two people in a loud community center gym. But do you know what the sound was that cut through all the surrounding noise? I think you do. It was the unmistakable sound of the gap between our values and our reality being closed— just a little bit.
Rathen than live in denial or fall into discouragement, my hope is we can collectively see the gap with clear eyes and full hearts. And then close it all the way.
Tell About It 