Original Humanities Curriculum (1991-97) at Bellevue International School

& Kirkland International Community School (1997-2001)

Quarterly grading periods, winter breaks and summer recesses were mere interruptions in one continuous curriculum…

History of Bellevue International School

Bellevue International School was the sole creation of six visionary teachers, and has consistently ranked in the top tier of schools nationwide…

Creating Kirkland International Community School

We had no computers the first year, and our students were housed in portables with little shelter from the rain…Yet, by the second year we achieved the highest writing scores on statewide exams…

How Marysville Arts & Technology H.S. Began

“We don’t have tennis courts. We don’t have a gym. We don’t have a lot of things,” Principal Bruce Saari said. “We do have a small school culture…

How Social Promotion Gives a ‘Pass’ to Schools that Fail

Ask any teacher whether social promotion “works”, and you will receive a clear answer: It doesn’t…

Creating A Powerful Teaching Culture

If the teaching culture is not transformed, then “school renewal” will be an empty promise..

First Test Scores from Bellevue International School

and The International Community School of Kirkland

These scores were achieved by schools that were untried, built on promises, and which had yet to acquire a reputation for rigor and success…

Making it Better vs. Making it New

“Better” and “different” may sometimes be confused as charter schools describe their mission…