Remembering a champion

No story about Gompers and the charter school movement in the San Diego Unified School District is complete without mentioning Brian Bennett.

A small man with a quiet voice and a big heart, Brian was a catalyst for education reform and worked tirelessly on behalf of under-served students. He was a leader in the fight for fairness and justice - a powerful advocate for the rights of the poor to have equal access to schools of quality.

Brian’s recent death from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) on Dec. 30 at the age of 59 was a tragic loss for San Diego and indeed, for innovation in education across the state and the nation.

I first met Brian in early 2005 when I was reporting on the charter phenomenon at San Diego Unified. He was serving under then Superintendent Alan Bersin as the district’s first director of the Office of School Choice. He played a key role in late 2004 and early 2005 in supporting three failing schools attempting to restructure as charter schools under the provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. One of those schools was Gompers.

The meeting on March 1, 2005, when Gompers Middle School’s charter was approved unanimously by the school board after dozens of speakers and hours of debate, was historic. Brian was there in the middle of all the excitement, the unassuming man behind the scenes who had helped bring to fruition that remarkable vote.

Brian deplored inequities in the public education system and clearly understood the limited opportunities the devastating effects of poverty and racial discrimination have on learning. His all-consuming focus, made clear to me from our very first conversation, was to eliminate the divide between the haves and have-nots in our schools, calling this the civil rights issue of our time.

Because of his efforts, so many parents have been empowered by the knowledge that they are permitted - required, even - to reclaim failing schools and demand from bureaucracy-bound school districts a just and adequate distribution of resources and talent in equal proportion to that given to schools in wealthier neighborhoods.

Brian gave parents in San Diego’s poor neighborhoods permission to dream of a better future for their kids, one fueled by access to a decent education.

His funeral on Jan. 7 overflowed with hundreds of family, friends and admirers - former SDUSD colleague Tom Mitchell described those frenzied days in the fall of 2004, when he and Brian worked feverishly to help educate the community on charter school advantages, the law and the process.

Calling him “Little Big Man” and the Darren Sproles of education, Mitchell said Brian was a champion of the underdog, a hero who leaves behind a powerful legacy.

Brian believed that all parents have the right to exercise choice in education, and that competition among schools for students would improve academic achievement for all.

In public, he debated artfully with skeptics over the letter, as well as the intent and spirit, of the law. His extensive knowledge of the Byzantine education code helped untangle confusion, and his gift at translating complex language into understandable concepts was renowned.

In private, he quietly went about his business, educating parents about their rights and options, with boundless patience and energy.

His commitment to education preceded his time at San Diego Unified. A 35-year veteran educator, Brian served as principal of Blessed Sacrament Parish School for almost 20 years, becoming not just a voice for children but an indefatigable community activist who was recognized for his work to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood.

During his three years leading the Office of School Choice, the district became a mecca of charter school activity, as the number of charter schools increased from 15 to 34. With nearly 10 percent of the district’s enrollment attending charter schools, San Diego Unified led the state at the time in the most charters as a percent of total enrollment.

After leaving San Diego Unified, Brian worked as the western regional director for the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, providing policy direction, technical assistance, ongoing training and support.

“Over the years, I have gained a deeper appreciation and understanding for the pioneer work of Brian Bennett,” said Gompers Charter Middle School director and principal Vincent Riveroll.

“His powerful influence for years to help change a failing school into a successful charter was not only a courageous act then but has continued to bear fruit today for hundreds of parents, students and staff. Brian’s bravery and belief in all children paved a road for others.”

Hugh “Bud” Mehan, professor of sociology at the University of California, San Diego, called Brian a man of principle and a stalwart advocate for school choice.

“From the time I knew him in the mid-70s, he always was vitally concerned with equity and excellence for parents and families in schools and in neighborhoods that were under-served,” said Mehan, who serves as a member of the Gompers board of directors.

Brian was recognized by numerous organizations for his work on behalf of school choice. He was awarded a commendation by the California Board of Education on Sept. 6, 2006. In March 2007, he was named an outstanding contributor to the California charter school movement by the California Charter Schools Association. And June 19, 2007 was declared Brian Bennett Day in San Diego.

After his death, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers posted a notice on its Web site, calling him “a passionate and optimistic advocate for quality charter schools and other forms of school choice. Through hard work and eloquence, Brian has left a lasting impression on the charter school sector in San Diego and throughout the nation.”

The nonprofit Democrats for Education Reform recently renamed its Education Warrior Award the “Brian Bennett Education Warrior Award,” at the suggestion of DFER board member Alan Bersin, who described Brian as “a keystone in the charter movement” and “a giant in the struggle for quality education for all children, a warrior in the battle against obstacles to that end, and a gentle, thoughtful human being.”

DFER’s executive director, Joe Williams, called Bennett a “warrior’s warrior” and one of the “great trailblazers” in education reform.

In our last email exchange before he died, he talked of his debilitating illness. “Since my diagnosis, I have been reminded daily of the value of friends and family,” he wrote. “… My spirits are strong - every day is a fight worth having!”

I was privileged to know this modest, gracious man who was a fighter until the end. His enormous contribution to the betterment of public education and his message of compassion and hope that he carried into forgotten neighborhoods and communities of San Diego will last for generations to come.

Marsha Sutton is an SDNN contributing writer.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 at 1:39 pm and is filed under Education. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.