Alliance for Progress Charter School, a North Philadelphia charter roiled by turmoil, has a new leader.
Emmanuel George is now interim chief executive officer, the school’s board of directors chair said in an “important leadership update” recently sent to families. He replaces Stacey Scott, who served as Alliance’s CEO for several years.
George hails from New York City, where he spent 16 years as an educator and administrator in the charter sector. He describes himself as a consultant and school turnaround specialist.
It was not clear whether Scott was fired or voluntarily left. Larry Griffin, the board chair, did not address the circumstances surrounding Scott’s departure in his letter; he did say that Scott “will work with Mr. George to ensure a smooth and orderly transition.”
Alliance for Progress’ charter is up for renewal by the Philadelphia school board this school year.
Alliance, on Cecil B. Moore Avenue, has churned through staff in recent years. Paraprofessionals without college degrees or educational licenses are providing instruction, according to multiple people inside the school. Alliance also kept students on its rolls who did not attend, leading to state payments for children it did not educate, according to people inside the school.
Scott had been working remotely after an Aug. 25 incident in which she stormed into a meeting at the school and began cursing at Eric Langston, the new principal.
George began his job on Sept. 26. It’s not clear exactly when Scott left her CEO role.
“You can’t trust this snake! Motherf—!” Scott allegedly said when she interrupted Langston’s meeting, according to people with firsthand knowledge. She then walked out of the room, shouting “F— this school,” and left the building.
Langston, who started working at Alliance this summer, had sent an August email to the board outlining concerns about the school, and Scott’s leadership in particular.
Langston spelled out issues around “Scott’s leadership and decision-making, including questions about whether decisions are consistently being made in the best interest of the school,” according to the email, which was obtained by The Inquirer.
Langston said his concerns “have reached a level that gives me significant pause regarding leadership practices, organizational culture, transparency, and the long-term health of Alliance.”
Griffin, in a statement Thursday, said, “Alliance continues our review of matters identified by” the Inquirer story. “Given that, we still have no comment at this time.”
Continued worries
An Alliance staff member said the year is still concerningly chaotic.
On one recent day, a lockdown was called around lunchtime because a student could not be located, said the staffer, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal.
Ten minutes into the lockdown, it was discovered that the student didn’t actually attend Alliance.
“You aren’t aware that you may be missing a student until noon, and someone didn’t even know that student wasn’t in their class,” the staffer said.
“The staff are all great, but we’re all in the same mode of frustration, where we don’t know what’s going on. There’s a lack of communication from higher up. We’re frustrated and worried for the kids.”
Administration seems most focused on the school’s charter renewal, the staffer said.
The staffer said some Alliance students, especially the older ones at the 600-student K-8 school, have picked up on the problems.
“The kids know there’s such a turnover rate, and they can push teachers out. And there’s no consequences for them. They understand the dysfunction, they see teachers leaving all the time. They see their test scores — they’re aware that they’re really behind in reading. Not one grade, the entire school.”
Griffin, in his letter to families, said he knew transitions brought questions, and vowed the board would “remain actively engaged in supporting Mr. George, our faculty and staff and the school community. Our responsibility is to provide the leadership, oversight and stability Alliance needs to continue moving forward.”
The school’s direction must remain clear, Griffin wrote.
“Alliance for Progress exists to create opportunity for our students and help every child learn, grow and succeed,” Griffin said. “That means keeping students at the center of our decisions, supporting the people who serve them every day and strengthening the systems and practices that allow our school to deliver on its mission.”
