From the Desk of the CEO

Dear Friends, Family, and Community,

Few words can describe the emotion, excitement and pride felt by the people who have been part of the history of this very special institution. Every person who has touched this school in some way has made a difference in the course it has taken to evolve into what it is today.

There is no question that WOLCS has been blessed since its inception fifteen years ago. The vision of its founders to convert an abandoned supermarket into a thriving educational center, for the purpose of providing choice to some of the city’s most deserving families, was a seriously ambitious venture.

Years later, WOLCS has produced amazing outcomes as a leading educational institution in the great city of Philadelphia. We have continued to progress in our efforts to successfully educate and prepare our students, and we are, without question, moving from Good to Great.

One of my greatest blessings came in 2006 when I was granted the privilege of becoming WOLCS’ CEO. The timing presented a unique opportunity to establish my own team and to implement business practices that helped me to advance my career in the field of healthcare. Supported by a talented team, tremendous energy and determination, we set out to transform WOLCS into a well-run business and academic organization. The key components of our plan included realigning the school’s administrative structure, facing the brutal realities, getting the best people into the right positions, creating a culture of intimacy where staff members regarded WOLCS as a second home, developing leadership from within, and drilling down on data to ensure that all barriers to student learning and achievement were removed.

Our hard work really paid off! Student attendance has made impressive gains, our teacher certification is at 100%, our teacher retention rate is at 93%, teacher and parent satisfaction ratings with the administration and academic program are remarkable, and above all, student performance continues to trend sharply upward. At the end of the day, validation of our growing success has come by way of the unprecedented numbers of WOLCS students entering the city’s most accomplished high schools. We may have miles to go, but we have made astounding strides on our journey from Good to Great.

West Oak Lane Charter School’s recent 64,000 square foot expansion is a celebration of vision, strength in collaboration, loyalty to our community, and a commitment to excellence in education. What was once a vacant supermarket now represents an educational gateway to a galaxy of possibilities for so many children.

In closing, I want to sincerely thank all of you for whatever your contribution has been to this school’s success. And, I want to assure you that the investment you have made in West Oak Lane Charter School is deeply appreciated by the students and the staff that consider this very special place their home.

With tremendous gratitude,
Dr. Debbera Peoples-Lee, Chief Executive Officer

From the Desk of the CEO

About West Oak Lane Charter