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The Need, The Vision, The Follow Through

Urban public education has its unique challenges. Stories of escalating school drop-out rates abound. The growing gulf between the personalized educational needs of students and what public systems can provide in the way of a customized response to students needs is becoming increasingly more evident. Moreover, technology and the global nature of our world have made the traditional classroom obsolete.

The School of Urban Planning and Architecture (SUPAR) was founded on the belief that we must unleash the potential of our youth such that they engage with their world and their immediate environment, see themselves as agents of change, and grow into being life-long learners.

Our school represents the first of its kind, as an instrumentality public charter high school that is linked to a major urban university, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee (UWM). This arrangement in and of itself represents a new model for urban education that creates a bridge for high students to the university, while leveraging university faculty and students in support of the educational programming and mentoring of high school students. SUPAR's support of customized instruction for students through project-based learning with a specific focus on urban planning and architecture initiatives in communities in which students are familiar or in which they live further distinguishes SUPAR as an urban education innovation.

Additionally, SUPAR's approach to educational excellence is captured in its values that place parent involvement and leadership at the core of the school's day-to-day functioning. Moreover, community, business, and civics partnerships are desired and will be embraced by SUPAR as a source of program support, potential projects, and collaborative ventures that will enhance the student experience, as well as school operations and financial standing.

We are excited about our educational endeavors, which will undoubtedly be filled with many challenges, but also new understandings and rewards. We are asking that you commit yourself to SUPAR's success by lending your time, energy, and expertise either through various volunteer activities at the school or as a member of the SUPAR governing board. We are here for our students to ensure they will be the best they can be, and we are asking for your support to help SUPAR achieve this most critical goal.

Thank you for your contribution in making SUPAR strong!

Humbly submitted,

Dr. Kirk E. Harris, J.D., Ph. D.
Founder & Chairman of the Board

Links

project foundry

Seven Key Attributes of Successful Schools

Milwaukee Public Schools websites