Cesar Chavez Academy becomes Denver reality

By Robyn G. Mayer El SemanarioApril 9, 2009This fall, northwest Denver parents will have the opportunity to send their children to a charter school with an almost unmatched track record for academic success.
The César Chávez Academy (CCA), parents, community activists and students celebrated their victory after a hard drive to bring the Pueblo-based school to the neighborhood on March 31st , the namesakes birthday. The academy is part of the César Chávez Schools Network.
César Chávez Academy’s charter was granted earlier in the year, but the school just barely found a facility in time to open for the 2009-10 school year. A lease was signed recently for the building that now houses the Denver Arts and Technology Academy at 3752 Tennyson St DATA will be closing its doors this spring.
Parents and community organizers from parents said they faced many roadblocks to push this deal through, but felt that the school is nothing less than the children of northwest Denver deserve.
On 2005-06 Colorado Student Assessment Program tests, César Chávez students in grades three through eight outperformed students at district and state levels in reading, writing and mathematics by an average of 25 percentage points, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
In 2008, students at the network’s Dolores Huerta Preparatory High School in Pueblo earned the highest composite ACT scores in their district, and many students there earn their associate degrees through the school’s Early College Program by the time they finish high school.
Many local parents who have children enrolled at the Denver Arts and Technology joined with the community organization Padres Unidos to fight for the school they thought was best for their children.
“Anything worth its weight in life is going to be tough anything substantial is going … to take some work,” said Sam Barnes, a parent with twins currently attending DATA, who joined Padres Unidos to help bring CCA to the area.
Members of the group made a point to thank everyone involved in bringing the school to the neighborhood. One person recognized was Rick García, Denver District 1 City Councilman, for his help finding a location for the school and persuading the school board to launch the school this year. García’s wife, Loretta Martínez, accepted a plaque on his behalf, as he was attending a council meeting during the event. The meeting is usually held on Mondays, but City offices were closed Monday in honor of Chávez.
“If you have a high-performing charter coming into an area where we need high-performing schools, obviously, I was going to be very supportive,” García said earlier in the day by phone.
Lawrence P. Hernández, the school’s co-founder, grew up in Pueblo, the son of a union riveter for ABC Rail. Hernández went on to get his bachelor’s degree, his master’s degree, his education degree and his Ph.D. and to teach at Harvard University.
“This was our dream. It was our opportunity to fix all the things that were wrong with our own public school educations,” Hernández said.
“It’s based on what private schools do. Providing kids with the best opportunities, providing with them with the best teachers and the best curriculum,” Hernández said. “I mean that’s what a great public school should do.”
Students at CCA must wear uniforms and can miss only six days of school per year. Class sizes are small and the rules are strict. If a student doesn’t show up for class, Hernández said, someone will be knocking on their door. Curriculum for language and history is based on the Core Knowledge principles, but is supplemented with Latino culture and Spanish. Every student must be proficient in both Spanish and English by the time he or she graduates.
Students are required to participate in a club and perform community service, Hernandez said.
Former DHPH student Steven Trujillo, 20, completed 63 hours toward college by the time he graduated high school. He was at the open house and now works for the network’s enrollment department. He is about to complete his bachelor’s degree and plans to continue with a master’s degree.
His brother, Max, 13, was also on hand. He attends the César Chávez Academy in Pueblo.
“I love that the teachers are one-on-one with you,” Max said.
Kristin Sharp, an organizer for Padres Unidos, was encouraged by the school’s opening.
“We finally did it in this effort.” she said. “Parents want their current schools to adopt some of these practices.” It’s a crime the state that schools are in today.
The successes of at-risk students prove that these children can do well and rise to the occasion when offered quality education.
“The myth that isn’t the kids fault or it’s the parents fault is slashed away,” Sharp said. “I feel like we’ve done something great for 376 kids.”
But that’s not enough. This is still unavailable to many students.
“We have to push our existing schools to rise to these standards,” she said.
For more information, visit cca-pueblo.org.