Ben Chavis (educator) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Doctor Ben Chavis
Born	Benford Ben Chavis Robeson County, North Carolina
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Oklahoma City University University of Arizona Northern Arizona University
Occupation	Educator
Years active	1988- present
Organization	San Francisco State University American Indian Public Charter School
Known for	American Indian Model Schools

Benford Chavis is an American educator. He is well-known for leading the American Indian Public Charter School (AIPCS). This school is located in Oakland, California. He also led the larger American Indian Model Schools system. Dr. Chavis worked there from 2001 to 2012.

He is a national leader in making schools better. He believes in strong discipline and holding students accountable. Ben Chavis grew up in Robeson County, North Carolina. He earned a special degree called a doctorate in education. He got it from the University of Arizona. Before working in Oakland, he was a professor at San Francisco State University in 1988. He also led schools on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona.

Dr. Chavis became the principal of AIPCS in 2000. At that time, it was one of the toughest middle schools in Oakland. It had very low attendance and graduation rates. Under Dr. Chavis, the school improved a lot. In 2006, it was named one of the top 250 schools in the United States. By 2008, it was ranked fifth among all 1300 middle schools in California. In 2010, it became the number one middle school.

The school's success under Dr. Chavis was amazing. However, some people questioned his methods. In 2012, a report looked into how school money was managed. After a long review, all concerns about money management were cleared in 2019.

Chavis was featured in a movie called Flunked (2008). He also helped write a book. It is titled Crazy Like a Fox: One Principal's Triumph in the Inner City (2009).

Early Life and Education

Growing Up in North Carolina

Benford Chavis was born in Robeson County, North Carolina. He was the oldest of six children. His family was part of the Lumbee community. Everyone called him "Ben," and he has used that nickname ever since.

His father passed away when Ben was young. His mother later remarried. Ben's parents did not have much formal schooling. However, Ben said his stepfather taught him important lessons. These included being disciplined and working hard. He also learned to be responsible. Ben used these ideas later in his work as an educator.

Schooling and College Years

Ben Chavis went to local public schools. These schools were separated by race at the time. He was very interested in sports. He earned a scholarship for track from Oklahoma City University. After two years, he received another scholarship. This one was for academics from the University of Arizona. He decided to transfer there.

At the University of Arizona, he studied education. He thought it would be an easy field. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. To help pay for college, he worked part-time as a school janitor. He continued his studies by taking night classes. He earned a master's degree from Northern Arizona University. Later, he completed his doctorate degree at the University of Arizona. He focused on education, philosophy, and anthropology.

Career in Education

Starting as a Professor

In 1988, Dr. Chavis became a professor. He taught in the ethnic studies department. This was at San Francisco State University. By 2000, he was working as a superintendent. He led schools on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona.

Leading American Indian Public Charter School

That same year, people from Oakland's Native American community contacted him. They asked him to become the principal. This was for the American Indian Public Charter School in Oakland. He started this new role in 2001. By 2005, he had greatly improved student test scores. He also increased the number of students at the middle school.

Dr. Chavis's methods caused some discussion. Some parents and teachers had concerns. However, many people praised his work. Columnist George Will and Andrew Coulson from the Cato Institute supported him. The school was known for expecting high performance. It also focused on finding and supporting the best teachers.

Expanding the School System

In 2007, Dr. Chavis worked with the school's board. They wanted to offer more classes. They added another middle school, AIPCS II. They also opened a high school, AIPHS. These schools became part of a new group. It was called the American Indian Model Schools (AIMS) system.

Dr. Chavis stepped down as the main head of the schools in 2007. However, the board asked him to stay on as an advisor. He remained active in the schools' plans. In 2012, a K-4 elementary school was added to AIPCS II. Over these years, the AIMS system welcomed many students. More African American, Asian, and Latino students joined. American Indian students became a smaller percentage. Dr. Chavis left all ties with the schools in January 2012. By the 2012 school year, about 90 percent of AIMS students were of Asian background. Some people believed the high scores were due to the students' strong focus on achievement.

Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called Dr. Chavis's results an "education miracle."

Featured in Media

Documentaries and TV Appearances

Dr. Chavis was one of the educators in the movie Flunked (2008). This documentary was directed by Corey Burres. It explored problems in public schools. It also showed efforts to make education better. Dr. Chavis has appeared on TV shows hosted by John Stossel several times. He was also often discussed in Stossel's articles.

Books Authored

• Blakely, Carey., Chavis, Ben. Crazy Like a Fox: One Principal's Triumph in the Inner City. United States: Penguin Publishing Group, 2010. ISBN: 9781101532492