Thank You Dr. Price

by Lynn Shumake | Jun 15, 2018 | Leading Story

Recently, we learned that Dr. Price, who has been at North Star since it opened in 2002, will be moving to a new position as LPS Supervisor for Secondary Personnel Services. While we will miss her friendship and wise guidance, we know she will continue to inspire others and continue her commitment to ensuring all of Lincoln’s students have the opportunities and support they need to change the world.

A letter to Dr. Price

By Julie Allen, Founder & CEO

There are supporters and there are Champions. But there’s only one Dr. Price.

When we tell people about our partner high school, Lincoln North Star, the ”star” of the story is always its principal, Dr. Vann Price. Because to say that Lead Up would still be just an idea on a drawing board without Dr. Price isn’t an understatement.

When we asked our partner Nebraska Wesleyan to suggest a high school partner, Vice President for Campus Community T. J. McDowell didn’t hesitate: “North Star. Let’s go meet with Dr. Price.” And what great advice it turned out to be.

From that first introduction, it was clear that Dr. Price has mastered the highest calling of leadership: creating the conditions to help others succeed. You can feel it the minute you enter the school and hear it in the way she talks about the community in her care. So, I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise that she was enthusiastic about our plans to help North Star students reach their potential, grow into leaders and set out on new life paths they may not have considered themselves prepared for.

From helping to select Lead Up Student Leaders, integrating Lead Up into the North Star Community and providing feedback and support for programmatic ideas, Dr. Price has had an indelible impact on Lead Up and is an invaluable force in our success.

To a remarkable leader and one of the nation’s finest principals: Thank you. We are Leading Up because of you. If you’re still wondering about how much you matter to Lead Up and our wonderful students, read their testimonials.

Thank you for helping start Lead Up and introducing me to it. Your encouragement of our Lead Up activities has helped not just me but my fellow students keep going.

Marissa

I remember going into your office confused as to why I was called out of class. Being told I was chosen to be in a program that would help me with college was the moment I saw my future get a little brighter. Since then it has been an adventure and in less than a week I will be graduating and preparing for college.

Rachelle

I remember getting a pass that said, “See Dr. Price” and I was so scared I was in trouble! When I got to the office I joined a table full of students and you said, “Who wants to go to college?” Right then and there I knew I was getting into something life-changing.

Tawni

Setting young people on pathways to success is what ignites my passion. Bringing big ideas to life is my favorite way to do it.

My big idea inspiration started with my experience as an artist-in-residence in a place where some would say no big idea could flourish; a high poverty school in a neighborhood defined by drug activity and violence. Staging musicals, writing an opera, and teaching over a hundred kids to play the piano as a way to improve chronic attendance and poor achievement was certainly a big idea – and most everyone expected me to fail.

My teaching team won a national award for the impact our effort had on that community. The greater prize was watching students transform, and the community regain its pride. I wanted to make that happen again and again and many opportunities have come my way to do just that.

As Director of the Midwest Consortium for Service-Learning in Higher Education I helped 23 colleges and universities transform culture and build infrastructure for civic learning and engagement. In that same role, I got another go at a big idea by conceptualizing and implementing the nationally recognized Nebraska Teacher Corps, helping 1,500 educators across the state learn and practice new teaching methods.

As Director of Education at Denver Community Schools, the big vision was fashioning public schools that served the whole community. Over 5 years, I brought life-long learning resources to 65,000 students of all ages and developed after-school learning centers emulated across the nation.

Being the Chief Academic Officer and Vice President of Boys Hope Girls Hope allowed me the challenge of building a first-generation college prep and completion program I called The College Road. In 2012 the Educational Policy Institute recognized the program among the best in the nation, due in no small part I think, that it raised degree completion for the program’s participants from 46% to 93%.

What I learned? Knowledge and opportunity change lives. And barriers to that change can be breached with creativity, and empowering others to engage with you. Just begin, and vigorously persist.

Now I’m beginning again, and growing a new model for engaging communities in developing the young people who will lead us into the 21st century. And it’s going to be BIG!

P.S. I’m grateful for all of the help I’ve received from mentors and colleagues along the way. Nebraska Wesleyan University helped prepare me for this great adventure and I’m proud to be Prairie Wolf alum. I completed my graduate work at the University of Denver and hope to never stop learning.

Thank You Dr. Price

A letter to Dr. Price

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