Putting It All in Perspective

Abstract

Say Yes President Mary Anne Schmitt-Carey and her lieutenants largely understood from the outset the challenges facing them in helping to create a program of whole-system educational reform to serve as a demonstration model for other cities. Most of their steps were surefooted and carried the undertaking forward with distinction. There were occasional stumbles and some moves in unproductive directions that required U-turns. Schmitt-Carey conceded that “the community took a calculated risk” in giving entrée to Say Yes. Mostly, though, Say Yes readily acknowledged its mistakes and learned from them. As a result, it was able to apply the lessons when the organization added Buffalo to its portfolio in 2012.