“A moving, encouraging story … that shows what is possible when a big city attempts to overhaul its high schools….offers a blueprint for success when a public high school teams up with a great university school of education” – Clara Hemphill, author, NYC’s Best Public High Schools
“Thunderous applause and insightful discussion at the end of the film… What a terrific example of the power of school-university partnerships!” – Bruce Field, Chair, 2011 Professional Development Schools National Conference, New Orleans
First, Small School, Big City had a standing-room only premier at Pace University with NYC Schools Deputy Chancellor Shael Polakow-Suransky leading a panel discussion on high school reform in NYC. And now WNET-Thirteen brings this 30 minute documentary to TV!
Launched in 2003 in Chinatown, Pace High was an “experiment” in creating a small high school. Its journey began with a chance meeting between a Pace University professor of education and a middle school assistant principal. Among hundreds of such new schools in NYC, Pace has flourished. In 2008, the school’s first graduating class of 100 students boasted more than 390 college acceptances and $4 million in scholarship offers.
Small School, Big City will inspire educators, administrators, parents, and others by showing what public small-school success looks like from the inside. Applications to Pace High have grown from 500 in 2004 to more than 5,800 in 2011 – placing it among the ten most sought-after public high schools in New York City. College scholarships offered to the 2010 graduating class topped $18 million.
Small School, Big City is available for professional, school and parent events. DVDs and social media video clips are also available. The National Association for Professional Development Schools has endorsed Small School, Big City and intends to distribute the film along with a discussion guide to educators around the country. For information, contact Jason Kinsey, NAPDS Administrator at napds@mailbox.sc.edu.
Small School, Big City is narrated by Roscoe Orman, actor, author, and star of Sesame Street. It was written by Emmy award-winning writer and author, Ouisie Shapiro; and music composed by Godfrey Nelson. Small School, Big City was directed and produced by Ken Browne. His previous film, Look! I’m in College! (2008), was screened at several film festivals and received the 2010 Paul Robeson Award for Best Short Documentary at the Newark Black Film Festival. It was also featured on the NBC Nightly News. For information, visit www.kbprods.com/look.
For more info about Small School, Big City, contact:
Ken Browne Productions
Tel 917-856-2244
ken@kbprods.com
