‘Absolutely Inspiring’
Kaleem Caire
“Our kids love Tutor-Mentors. They absolutely inspire younger students,” said Kaleem Caire, founder and CEO of One City Schools.
Caire said the Madison charter school is a “laboratory for the state” that couples innovative methods of education with the goal of “nurturing interest in making the world a better place.”
Currently, 540 students from preschool through high school are enrolled. Most (92 percent) are students of color, 70 percent are from households in poverty, and 20 percent have special needs.
A Brief Overview
How four Partner Teachers and the Tutor-Mentors in their classrooms view their partnerships.
“Our goal is to help these young people who historically have not had as much success in public schools,” said Maria Dyslin, One City’s chief academic officer.
Several former Tutor-Mentors have been employed by One City as student support paraprofessionals. Dyslin believes Root 2 Rise could similarly inspire younger students to pursue careers in education.
“Our rewarding partnership with One City Schools has had durable and far-reaching results,” said Denise Hanson, executive director and founder of Root 2 Rise.
“Our partnership with Root 2 Rise makes sense,” Caire said.
Caire cited “politics” as the biggest obstacle facing One City, most notably the misconception that charter schools directly benefit from referendums that fund public schools.
“We’re expected to get better results with less money,” he said. He understands that public concern about racial injustice prompted by George Floyd’s murder seems to have subsided, but is alarmed over a concomitant decrease in concern over what should be “our highest national priority — the welfare of children.”