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Igniting self-discovery and self-confidence at an early age can start a child on the road to a successful life. In the front hallway of the HOPE Christian School on 25th and North Avenue, the "Wall of Fame" is proudly displayed. Under each "Student of the Month" picture is the year the student will start college. "We encourage our students to start to think about college as being a logical, attainable goal for themselves right from the beginning," said Principal Jamie Luehring.

The HOPE network of schools includes two grade schools and a high school with a total enrollment of more than 500. The schools are located in the heart of Milwaukee in an area where a college degree is a rarity. In fact, 44% of the people in this community haven't earned a high school diploma and 38% live in poverty.

Last year, however, HOPE graduated 27 seniors in its first high school class—with almost all accepted to a post-secondary school.

"We intentionally set up our schools in Milwaukee's toughest neighborhoods—the neighborhoods with the highest crime rates, the lowest education rates and the lowest incomes," explains HOPE Schools' president Dr. Andrew Neumann. "We believe that every child has the capacity to learn. Our driving philosophy is to accept no excuses and take no shortcuts as we equip students academically and spiritually for college and for lives as serving leaders."

As you walk through the school, you find engaged children in every classroom. Principal Luehring cites the various skill-building techniques used at the school… everything from Renaissance Learning practice and progress-monitoring tools for academic skills to the "HYSTEP" (pronounced high step) program for social skills that reminds students to say hello and yes, to smile, and to say thank you, excuse me and please.

But the basis for the school's success lies in its team of highly driven individuals dedicated to HOPE's mission. Dr. Neumann credits HOPE's team with making the tangible difference in the lives of students. The faculty invests much of themselves in their work at the school. They take turns coming in to tutor and mentor students two Saturdays each month. They hand out their personal phone numbers at the beginning of the year, expecting to receive regular phone calls at home from students stumped on a homework problem.

In return for this dedication, HOPE has made a commitment to give these teachers, administrators and staff the skills they need to be successful. The school established the HOPE Institute. The Institute is designed to provide HOPE educators with the training, professional development resources, and ongoing mentoring that they need to serve students and their families.

Through the Institute, teachers may take advantage of grants to help pursue their master's and doctorate degrees. Nearly 40 percent of HOPE's faculty have earned or are working toward graduate degrees.

HOPE also takes teachers to visit other high-performing schools nationally. The annual trips enable the HOPE team to observe best practices, share ideas with their peers, and have time to relax and bond with each other.

On their trip to Chicago the teachers and administrators had a few days of team building and professional development. The group visited several schools, including Noble Street, Namaste and KIPP Ascend. After the tours, the group brainstormed ways to incorporate ideas that they liked into HOPE's program.

Teachers also are encouraged to attend professional growth sessions to enhance their subject-matter expertise. HOPE teachers attended workshops on language arts in Houston, Texas, and on math in San Antonio, Texas, and San Jose, California.

The Institute also brings in outside experts to address educators in Milwaukee. HOPE hosted Harriett Ball, the successful urban teacher who has been featured on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," CBS's "The Early Show" and in numerous newspaper articles. Ms. Ball's one-day workshop provided participants with multi-sensory, mnemonic strategies to teach math and language arts.

The HOPE Institute also partners with seasoned urban teachers inside and outside of HOPE to mentor teachers new to the urban setting.

Ashley Arndt-Eggers teaches first grade at HOPE. Last year, she participated in the HOPE Institute's Future Teacher Training Program.

"I can't imagine what it would have been like to try managing my classroom without the hands-on training that I received through the HOPE Institute," said Arndt-Eggers. "I was able to watch what worked for my mentors and then practice applying their techniques to the way I teach. My mentors equipped me with the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to succeed in the classroom."

"We believe that a good school starts with strong leadership, great teachers, and a team aligned behind a common mission," Dr. Neumann said. "Through our HOPE Institute, we have created a happy school environment and a culture that focuses on making teaching and learning exciting."