“Parents and principals trying to understand what makes successful schools work ought to read Born to Rise.” — New York Times

Born to Rise is the inspiring account of Deborah Kenny’s pursuit of social justice for our nation’s most vulnerable children. Part memoir, part manifesto, it is a hopeful and practical exposition of what it takes to transform schools and create organizations where the staff lights up with entrepreneurial drive.

Students enter Harlem Village Academies, the network of charter schools Kenny founded, several years behind grade level, but in just a few years they are transformed, ranking among the highest in the nation. How did they do it? For the first time, Kenny reveals the secret to creating a powerful workplace culture that attracts the most talented people and brings out their passion and highest performance—a culture that produces stunning student achievement results and teachers who regularly use words like “magical” to describe the workplace environment. It is a must-read for anyone who cares about children and the future of this country and for leaders who want to inspire fierce dedication in their employees.

Based on her powerful journey, this book offers a new model for school leadership:

A New Approach to Workplace Culture: Discover the secret to creating an environment where talented teachers are empowered, inspired, and describe their work as "magical."
Transforming Student Achievement: See how students at Harlem Village Academies who started years behind grade level were able to rank among the highest in the nation.
A Blueprint for School Leadership: Learn the practical, replicable strategies for turning around failing schools and inspiring fierce dedication from your team.
An Inspiring Story of Social Justice: Follow Deborah Kenny's personal journey from devastating loss to founding a revolutionary network of schools for America's most vulnerable children.