Visiting Union Independent School — a new educational model

Visit to Union Independent School — social innovation at work

Two weeks ago, Julie MacMillan, MPH and I visited the Union Independent School (UIS) with Jim Johnson, Jr., Member, UIS Board of Directors  and William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship and Director, Urban Investment Strategies Center, Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the Kenan Flagler School of Business.

Union Independent School is a laboratory school created through a collaboration between Union Baptist Church and Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise.

Some days and some experiences leave me charged with excitement, and this was one of them. I came away thinking, “wow, this is the kind of place that really can make a difference in children’s lives and in a community.”

Jim was a driving force in taking UIS from a great idea to a reality. The school will be an interventions hub for two pressing problems, according to a background document, the K-12 education crisis and the African American male crisis. The school incorporates wellness and financial literacy into children’s daily lives. The children get a healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks and physical activity. There’s a gym that’s open to community members, and development of a wellness center is underway. As you can see from the pictures, the School is beautiful — the colors are upbeat, and everything is fresh, new and has a positive feeling. What really struck me is how engaged all the teachers and students were in learning. As we walked into classrooms, all the students would stand; one of the students would walk over to us and introduce themselves. None of the students seemed to be zoning out. I was impressed by the self-confidence these students communicated. In the first and second grades, I would not have been so self-assured while interacting with adults!

There are plans to develop programs for at-risk adolescent males and college students, and to help community members lose weight and exercise more. It’s really an exciting proposition. I’d love to see our faculty, staff and students get involved.

See a video tour of the school.

Seeing our alumni at APHA reception

Alumni talking non-stop with each other and with current faculty, staff and students — that was the scene November 9^th in Philadelphia, at our APHA alumni reception. They all had a lot to say to one another. Public health people are noisy in the best possible way! It’s always fun to see people and hear their fond memories of the school.

Another Association of Schools of Public Health deans’ meeting

I am not the newbie anymore. In fact, in the ranks of deans, where there is a lot of turnover, I am getting to be fairly senior. I really enjoy seeing fellow deans, and I usually come away from the experience with a few ideas about where we can improve and enhanced belief in our school. It has been good to watch the integrated model of global health developed at this school become the dominant way of organizing global health. Now, ASPH is developing global health competencies, very exciting. Peggy Bentley has done a great job of moving our school forward in this area.

Reaccreditation site visit

It has been years in the making, but it’s finally here. Our site visitors arrived from the Council on Education for Public Health.

Two and a half weeks of meetings and lots of questions. I’ll keep you posted.

Happy Monday. Barbara