LinkEducation & Uncommon Schools Networking Event April 1, 2008

Guest Speaker: Jabali Sawicki, Principal of Excellence Charter School of Bedford Stuyvesant
Drink Specials: All beer, wine, and well drinks are $4

LinkEducation (www.linkeducation.org) and Uncommon Schools (www.uncommonschools.org) are co-hosting a fun networking event where you can relax and meet others working in the education sector. RSVP to TheLinkEdTeam@linkeducation.org

Jabali Sawicki is the founding principal of Excellence Charter School of Bedford Stuyvesant located in Brooklyn, NY. Under Mr. Sawicki's leadership, Excellence aims to prepare its young boys to enter, succeed in, and graduate from outstanding college preparatory high schools and colleges. In August 2004, Excellence welcomed its inaugural group of 88 students in grades K-1. A new Kindergarten class will be added each year to eventually serve grades K-8.

As the first all-boys charter public school in New York City, Excellence represents a response to the alarming trends that threaten the long term success of African-American males. Those trends include higher school drop-out rates, lower graduation rates, and, for those who do graduate, lower rates of college-preparedness.

Steadfastly committed to "the long journey between now and 2020" - when Excellence's first class will graduate from college - Mr. Sawicki draws his faith in the ability of high quality education to elevate the lives of urban boys from his own personal and professional experiences.

Originally from San Francisco, CA, Mr. Sawicki had the opportunity to participate in Summerbridge, a program that prepares public middle school students, especially students of color, to succeed in rigorous high schools by enlisting energetic, talented high school and college students to serve as their teachers during the summer and school year. With the help of this program and his highly engaged mother, Mr. Sawicki accelerated on the path to college by enrolling in a single-sex private school and experiencing the benefits of Excellence's all-boys educational model first-hand.

Prior to helping found Excellence, Mr. Sawicki taught Science in Boston, MA at Roxbury Preparatory Charter School, one of the state's most successful urban charter schools. There, he played a central role in developing the school's academic program and culture. Drawing upon the positive influence of athletics and caring adults in his own life, Mr. Sawicki also founded a competitive soccer program and created a support group for boys.

Jabali Sawicki is a graduate of Oberlin College where he received a dual degree in Biology and Philosophy. Mr. Sawicki also is a KIPP Fellow and received his Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.

For more information on Excellence Charter School, visit www.ExcellenceCharter.org.

Official Website: http://linkeducation.org