·        Clean classrooms, clean and well kept entrance

·        Students all in uniform learning

·        Students all in uniform playing

·        Students who have the desire to learn, excited to be in school

·        No cursing or loud action on the playground or in the classroom

·        School that fosters STEM, athletes, musicians, President of the U.S.

·        I saw an ordered an clean facility appealing to the eye with colors and architecture that suits “Fung Shui”

·        I see smiles on students and staff.  Visitors are received like royalty

·        More importantly, I see that radiance on students faces as they pursue their academics because they are lit with the light of knowledge and have confidence I their ability to achieve!

·        Teachers eagerly awaiting their children

·        An atmosphere of family

·        Children eager to learn

·        Materials and supplies, etc that look like the kids!

·        Children with character!

·        A caring and loving school

·        Students with understanding and an open mind ready to go to the next level of success

·        Dreams coming alive

·          Trees out front, flowers neatly kept by students

·        The building has a dramatic inviting entrance

·        Soothing colors

·        Bright classrooms with lots of light; each classroom has its own library

·        Kids uniforms are military green bottoms with white and colors on top

·        Uniforms come from a local seamstress

·        Proud black young men with a hunger to learn

·        Where my child is excited to go and learn

·        Teachers are fair and willing to put extra time in for my child’s need

·        Uniforms like Christian Brothers Prep ( a mostly white male school in the South)

·        Higher grades/scores for state requirements

·        State of the art style like Pew County Prison in Chicago

·        My High School

·        With a culture and climate conducive to black student success

·        With a Vision, Mission and results that can be articulated by administrators, Clerks, secretaries, counselors, teachers, teacher aides and students

·        I see a pair of pencils and a paper

·        Orderly, Clean and Bright colors

·        Computers, images of black success/achievement

·        Positive exchanges

·        Black male teachers

·        Confident students

·        Healthy foods

·        Clean

·        Evidence of safety

·        Uniform in dress

·        No gum (by students or chewing by teacher)

·        Students interacting and learning with each other

·        Teachers interacting with students

·        Expectations posted and uniformed in every room and space in and out

·        With a culturally sensitive atmosphere

·        Where African American children are challenged not only by math and language, but science, philosophy and politics as well

·        Black School- Gray represented by all black students

·        Where there are endless possibilities

·        Where students are able to obtain the educational building blocks to obtain their dreams whatever they be

·        The school sets a standard to make sure not one child’s dream fades away

·        Where all children can learn

·        A place where they can grow and receive the social and emotional help that they will need.

·        This school will help them become more social and understand what the school is here for

·        From here, they will go on to college

·        Fragrance, peaceful

·        Enter the friendly gates grass-area park or library

·        Sitting benches and table

·        State of the art

·        In classroom pictures of successful people of color; ones that are unknown

·        Open seating area where counselors are

·        Teachers with desks at the same level as the children

·        Looks like the white house

·        The beginning of each day starts with prayer

·        We greet each staff member with joy, the joy that we must share with the children and families of everyone

·        Classrooms have smart boards, TV’s, books and teacher aides

·        Meetings after school to make sure we are on the same page

·        High expectations

·        Students are treated with respect and dignity

·        Students are valued and have high self-esteem

·        Students believe they can achieve and are motivated to do their best

·        Students want to learn

·        Students set high goals and plan to go to college

·        Teachers enjoy working with students, and feel good about students achieving

·        Teachers are sensitive to the social emotional development of young people

·        Big, beautiful

·        Lots of windows

·        Green grass, lots of high shaded trees

·        Earth tone color

·        Lots of parking spaces, Administration office, Large cafeteria

·        Men and women teaching

·        Uniforms

·        Courageous

·        Noise of kids

·        Play area

·        An open campus, beautiful and green

·        A clean and modern facility

·        Everyone in uniforms and excited

·        A staff willing to assist any need

·        Math and science programs geared toward the achievement of African American boys and girls

·        Children happy to learn and proud of what they are accomplishing

·        With an open and accepting environment

·        Children willing to learn and teachers ready to teach them

·        A cap and gown and smiling face

·        Parents who encourage each other

·        Girls who feel good about themselves

·        Boys who open doors for females not because the want their digits, but because it’s proper

·        Grades that meet and exceed the schools standards

·        Children who know without a doubt they are somebody and will succeed

·        With children with no baggie clothes

·        A classroom with teachers who care about their students

·        A school that would bring back prayer

·        With new techniques and ways of teaching

·        With awareness of how to educate

·        Represent and keep God first

·        Students prepared to learn

·        Students respecting the teachers

·        Teachers honoring their jobs

·        Teachers and parents interacting

·        Students preparing to go to the next level

·        Teachers excited to be there

·        Students excited to be there

·        Faculty and parents together for the sake of the kids

·        Openness

·        Ability to communicate effectively with staff and administrators

·        Fairness

·        School free of violence and crime

·        Highly qualified teachers

·        Students who are willing to sacrifice to achieve quality education

·        School focused on Math & Language as pivotal academic work

·        School with respect and pride

·        Lots of greenery, plants, trees and grass

·        A clean school with lights on at Sundown

·        The office has artwork (done by students) blown up and framed

·        Teachers with black and brown faces

·        Black and brown students in uniforms

·        Classrooms full of interactive technology

·        Computers, printers, widescreens, labs with microscopes

·        Library with lessons or tutor helps on I-pods students can check out

·        Representations of success not only in America but black and brown faces globally

·        Counselors meet with parents and students and even set up home visits when needed

·        Students with video cameras recording lessons and projects

·        Students publishing books they wrote

·        With smiling, excited and enthused black faces

·        Where the students are actively participating in learning as well as teaching one another

·        Beautiful paintings and pictures hanging from the walls giving colors of life

·        Medals, awards and trophies hanging around the school

·        A water fountain in the front

·        Teachers and students are excited to be there

·        With teachers with a heart for children and care if they succeed

·        Where staff are glad to see you and offer encouragement

·        A classroom where kids can see successful people around

·        Where students actively participate in class discussion and can broaden their horizons

·        Rich in African culture and tradition

·        Ancestral spirit alive

·        Garden of Eden; waterfalls, trees, colorful plants and flowers

·        Beautiful architecture

·        Serious, yet free

·        Intellectual atmosphere

·        Elders are respected

·        Children/students are respected

·        Discipline, love, care, protection

·        High expectations community

·        With intellectual youth and articulate conversations

·        With teachers I would discuss my child’s development and personal growth with

·        I would be interested in what improvement I could make at home for their educational needs for the future

·        I would want to volunteer around the school

·        Many students of all ages

·        After school programs (tutoring)

·        Nice buildings (two stories with nice landscape)

·        With lots of books and support

·        Changing the community

·        Kids getting excited about learning, not being discouraged because they didn’t understand the first or the second time

·        Teachers who receive joy from the hope they see in the faces of those they teach

·        Personnel that want to be there

·        Teachers that care most about the students

·        Paddle hanging in the office as a reminder of discipline for consequences for “pure unacceptable” behavior

·        Nicely built (brick with columns)

·        Manicured lawns

·        Clean hallways

·        Nice computer lab

·        Classrooms lined with African American historians

·        Office personnel who greet with smiles, friendly, warm

·        Elderly people greeting as you drive in

·        Students outside engaged in activities

·        Teachers being so involved with teaching they don’t even notice visitors

·        Boards in the classroom culturally rich with literacy

·        Principal that knows child’s name

·        Teachers that know the content like the back of their hand

·        Teachers excited about learning and sharing

·        Students excited and well engaged in the learning process

·        Progress indicators around school

·        Appreciation of the arts (Drama, music, poetry, journalism)

·        Where teachers care and want students to succeed and to move on into higher learning

·        Teachers treating students with respect and students respect each other

·        Teachers greet the kids and their parents

·        Somewhere worth going to learn

·        “A school where no matter how blue my days seem, I fill welcome and wanted at school to where the sun is always shining and the wind is always blowing.”

·        A safe environment

·        People that look/cared like me

·        Safe environment

·        Students treated like star players

·        Open communication with everyone

·        Clean organized campus

·        Modern technology

·        High standards

·        Peaceful environment

·        Multicultural students and staff

·        Elementary to High school

·        Intelligent conversations among students

·        Individualized curriculum that meets academic needs of the students

·        Very clean and well kept

·        State of the art equipment

·        Motivated staff eager to greet and to provide quality service not only to children but to visitors

·        Children motivated, eager to participate with a hunger to learn

·        With trees, grass and flowers with bright colors

·        Office staff who do not set up an environment that may act as a banner to parents

·        Rooms that are bright in color

·        A place for true community resources

·        Multi-purpose room used for the arts

·        Innovative staff

·        Resource room for parents

·        Pre-school

·        Open-ended conversations with all members of the school

·        No red tape

·        With parents involved and interacting

·        Teachers who enjoy what they teach

·        Students who are more than just a test score

·        Trees

·        Office people who are warm and inviting

·        A principal who is visible, accessible and open

·        A classroom filled with kids who are black instead of Mexican 

·        Environmentally and architecturally designed

·        Progressive-knowledgeable

·        Administration/Staff-prepared, productive, engaged

·        Students-educated

·        Continuously involved parents

·        A clean campus

·        Productive conversations

·        Results, academic achievements

·        Concerned teachers

·        Test preparation

·        Confident staff and students

·        Ardor, unity, love, peace, discipline

·        Structure, communication, meetings, conferences

·        Materials, scholarships

·        Activities

·        All black faculty, staff, students and administration

·        Huge facility with large green lawns/landscape

·        Large classrooms

·        Lockers

·        A school where teachers, administration and parents are concerned about students welfare and future

·        A place where dreams are founded

·        Children with smiling faces who are ready to learn

·        Schools where teachers are ready to do their jobs and to impact student’s lives

·        With no drama and no worries

·        A happy educated school

·        A big red school

·        Lots of kids running around in uniforms

·        Lots of windows, trees and plants

·        (Inside): lots of lockers and classrooms; attentive kids reading and answering questions

·        With teachers who help students learn and with things they don’t know

·        A school that lets children talk

·        A happy school