One Door at a Time

Michael Gary, Jr., Ph.D., serves as the Chief of Staff at Concentric Educational Solutions, bringing over 20 years of extensive experience in K-12 and higher education student support. His expertise lies in strategic program development and optimizing operational efficiency, enabling educational institutions to enhance their support systems and drive student success.

David L. Heiber, Sr. Ed.D., is the Founder and CEO of Concentric Educational Solutions, an organization dedicated to identifying and removing the barriers impacting students. He has conducted over 100,000 home visits throughout the United States. He has 25 years of experience in K-12 education as a teacher, administrator, and executive. As CEO, Concentric received the largest Series A funding for a Black-Owned Company in the history of Maryland. He has turned death, grief, and incarceration into redemption and is committed to revolutionizing education for underserved students.

Ivory A. Toldson, Ph.D., is a professor at Howard University, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Negro Education and chief of research for Concentric Educational Solutions. Dr. Toldson is a leading voice in addressing educational disparities, with a focus on advancing equity and excellence in education for underrepresented communities.

Foreword
 Molefi Kete Asante
Acknowledgements
List of Figures

PART 1: Setting the Stage

1 Introduction: The Journey of Concentric
 1 The Genesis of Concentricity: An Afrocentric Perspective on Education
 2 The Chasm between Intention and Impact: A Glimpse behind the Facade
 3 Falling through the Cracks: The Banita Jacks Tragedy
 4 Dismantling Assumptions: Questioning the Status Quo in Student Support
 5 The Transformative Power of the Doorstep
 6 A Radical Reorientation: Placing Students and Families at the Center
 7 The Genesis of Concentric: A Vision Rooted in Service, Not Profit
 8 Expanding the Circle of Support: From Classroom to Community
 9 Drawing Inspiration: The Harlem Children’s Zone as a Model
 10 Addressing the Leadership Void: A Systemic Failure in Preparation
 11 The Mechanics of Meaning: How Concentric Operationalizes Student Support
 12 The Professional Student Advocate
 13 The Concentric Approach: A Framework for Student Success
 14 The Power of Neutrality and Preparation: A Foundation for Authentic Connection
 15 Reflective Questions

2 Understanding the Landscape: How We See the School System
 1 Introduction: Framing the Perspective
 2 A View from Above (School Administration’s Perspective)
 3 A View from Below (Parents’ Perspective)
 4 The Intersection of Two Realities
 5 Conclusion: Setting the Stage for Solutions
 6 Reflective Questions

PART 2: The Core Problems

3 The Complexities of Student, Family and Community Engagement
 1 The Goal: Collaborative School-Family Partnerships
 2 Types of Parent/Family Involvement
 3 Breaking Down Barriers: The Challenges to Family-School Partnerships
 4 Bridging the Expectation Gap: Understanding School and Family Perspectives
 5 A Journey through Three Transformative Frameworks
 6 Charting the Path Forward: From Research to Reality
 7 Reflective Questions

4 Attendance and the Impact of Chronic Absenteeism
 1 The Evolution of Understanding School Attendance
 2 Redefining School Absence: Beyond Numbers to Understanding
 3 The Hidden Crisis in Education: Impact of Chronic Absenteeism
 4 The Impact Cascade: The Wide-Reaching Effects of Chronic Absence
 5 When Systems Fail: The Human Cost of Institutional Deafness
 6 The Afrocentric Solution: Reimagining Educational Centers
 7 Bringing It All Together: The Path Forward
 8 Reflective Questions

5 The Opportunity Gap: Factors beyond the Classroom
 1 Reimagining Educational Equity: Understanding the Opportunity Gap
 2 Beyond the Reading “Crisis”: Understanding Systemic Barriers to Literacy
 3 Beyond Numbers: Mathematical Opportunity Gaps
 4 Educational Inequity through Systems Thinking
 5 Beyond the Numbers: A Call to Action for Educational Justice
 6 Reflective Questions

6 Beyond Blame: Forging New Paths in School-Family Relationships
 1 Breaking Down Walls between Schools and Families
 2 Contributing Factor 1: The Blame Game
 3 Contributing Factor 2: Rethinking Where Learning Partnerships Happen
 4 Contributing Factor 3: When Learning Comes Home
 5 Contributing Factor 4: Navigating the Parent-Educator Knowledge Gap
 6 Contributing Factor 5: Forced Choices between Survival and Supporting Education
 7 The Impact on Children: Beyond the Classroom Walls
 8 Contributing Factor 6 – The Ghosts of Education Past: Generational School Trauma
 9 A Bridge across Time: Forging New Paths in School-Family Partnerships
 10 Reflective Questions

PART 3: The Solutions

7 Shifting the Mindset: Bureaucracy and the Need for Systemic Change
 1 Introduction: The Limits of Current Paradigms
 2 The Problems Inherent in Bureaucratic Systems
 3 Reimagining Systems: Shifting the Focus
 4 Reframing Support: Beyond Traditional Approaches
 5 Conclusion: A Call to Action
 6 Reflective Questions

8 The Importance of Redesigning Structure, Systems, and Practices
 1 Introduction: Beyond Good Intentions—The Need for a Solid Foundation
 2 The Foundation: A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Framework
 3 Essential Elements: Collaboration and Communication
 4 The Catalyst: The Role of the School Leader
 5 Conclusion: Designing Schools for Success
 6 Reflective Questions

9 Developing Effective CORE Teams and Operations
 1 Introduction: The Power of Targeted Support
 2 Tiered Support Systems: A Framework for Differentiation
 3 The CORE Team: The Hub of MTSS Implementation
 4 Collaborative Partnerships: Expanding the Circle of Support
 5 Data-Driven Decisions: Illuminating the Path Forward
 6 Conclusion: A Call for Coordinated Action
 7 Reflective Questions

10 Empowering Teachers: Meaningful Professional Development
 1 Introduction: Beyond the Basics—The Call for Transformative Teacher Preparation
 2 Context-Specific Preparation: Honoring the Realities of Urban Classrooms
 3 Key Components of Meaningful Teacher Professional Development
 4 Shifting Expectations: From Compliance to Empowerment
 5 Conclusion: A Call for a Reimagined Approach to Teacher Development
 6 Reflective Questions

11 Embedded Mentoring: Fostering Relationships of Support
 1 Introduction: The Power of Connection—Moving beyond Traditional Models
 2 The Limitations of Mentoring: Why After-School Programs Fall Short
 3 Embedded Mentoring: Integrating Support into the School Day
 4 The Power of One-on-One Relationships: Deepening the Impact of Mentorship
 5 The Necessity of a Full-Time Commitment
 6 Conclusion: A Call to Invest in Relationships
 7 Reflective Questions

12 A Path toward Equitable and Empowering Education
 1 Reconnecting the Threads
 2 From Analysis to Action: Embracing Systemic Transformation
 3 A More Equitable Future: A Call to Collective Action
 4 Reflective Questions

About the Cover
References
Index

This book is essential for K-12 educators, administrators, policymakers, community leaders, and anyone committed to educational equity, student-centered learning, and transforming urban education.