Democracy Prep has developed a reputation for being bold, nimble and thoughtful. We have become synonymous with risk-taking, in and out of the classroom. Our alumni’s successes may shock some people, but they don’t surprise us, because we always knew they were awesome. We always knew they would change the world.

Part of changing the world is taking on projects that others have long-since declared impossible – like family leave, like Pathways, like full school turnaround.

I am honored to announce that we will be partnering with San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) beginning in the 2018-19 school year. Democracy Prep will be operating P.F. Stewart Elementary School, an in-district school that represents the first time we have partnered with a district.

Part of our DNA is to push the envelope – to do the things that only we are brave enough to do. This is one of them.

I refer to John F. Kennedy to explain much of my thinking on why this is something we must do. It’s a long quote, but bear with me:

There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation may never come again. But why, some say, the Moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?

We choose to go to the Moon! We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.

We educate all scholars, we do it on public funds, we retain the highest quality talent. We honor our teachers, our scholars and our families. We went to Community School District 5 in Harlem because it was hard, we went to Camden because it was hard, we went to the Bronx because it was hard, we went to D.C. because it was hard, we went to Baton Rouge because it was hard, we went to Las Vegas because it was hard.

We choose to go to San Antonio, not because it is easy, but because it is hard.

– Katie Duffy