Education Reform Advocates To Honor Kevin Johnson With "Education Warrior Award"

Cite His Longstanding Support for Educational Excellence

March 20, 2008

Harlem, NY - As part of this evening's Harlem Charter School Night festivities, Sacramento Mayoral Candidate Kevin Johnson will be one of the recipients of an Education Warrior Award, which is given to commend an individual's longstanding support for innovative schools and educational excellence.

Johnson, who is opening a public charter school in Harlem in September, traveled to the event from Sacramento to join the hundreds of public charter school parents, teachers, students, and supporters at the Harlem Charter School Night rally.

Other award recipients include New York Governor David Paterson and Colorado State Senate President Peter Groff.

"It's an honor to receive this award and be amongst such distinguished company ," Johnson said. "All students and families should have compelling options for high-quality schools in their neighborhoods. As mayor, I will not sit on the sidelines and watch our schools fail to challenge our students. It is my fundamental belief that with hard work and a passion for results, we can reshape our public schools."

While playing in the NBA, Johnson founded the St. HOPE Academy and today serves as its CEO. St. HOPE is a nonprofit community development corporation created to revitalize communities through public education, civic leadership, economic development and the arts. In 2003, St. HOPE formed St. HOPE Public Schools, a pre-K through 12 independent charter school system of seven small schools.

When Sacramento High School faced a state takeover, Johnson stepped in and created an independent charter school system that today educates 1,800 students per year. Since then, the number of kids ready to enter college has nearly doubled.