The FilmAmerica, we have a problem.
Results of national and international tests show that our students are falling further and further behind. The average American student is no longer able to compete with foreign students, and in many cases, they’re failing to meet even basic academic standards.
Success rates are plummeting, and remediation and dropout rates are skyrocketing. Students entering the current American education system are in for a grim ride. It truly is a national scandal.
One size does not fit all...
Complaining about the problem is easy, but it produces few productive results — especially when many schools nationwide are truly “getting it right.” Flunked is the story of these schools—their founders, leaders, and students—who are breaking the mediocre mold by attaining great results in terms of college preparation, high test scores, and graduating competent workers for tomorrow’s economy. Discovering that one size truly does not fit all, they are finding different ways to make it work in their area, with their students.
The main characters of Flunked are our “heroes,” men and women from all walks of life—parents, teachers, principals, business professionals—who are making a difference to our students. These individuals have defied the odds, pressed the system, and succeeded in seemingly impossible situations. Through it all, they have proven that solutions in education are available here and now, if we will only follow their examples…
More information below....
The Narrator (click for more)
JOE MANTEGNA
A native of the Chicago area, Joe has starred in such movies as The Godfather, Part III and TV shows like The Simpsons, Joan of Arcadia—for which he was ranked among TV Guide’s “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time”—and the currently acclaimed Criminal Minds. He has won a Tony for his performance in the play Glengarry Glen Ross, a Best Actor award from the Venice Film Festival, and has been nominated for three Emmys and a Golden Globe.
Joe and his wife Arlene have two daughters, Mia (20) and Gina (17). Early in his career, Joe made a decision not to allow his career to come between him and his family, and he has taken them with him around the world rather than being separated from them for long periods of time. Thus, he has had exposure to various international education systems and has been able to compare and contrast what has worked best for his kids—especially his oldest daughter, who is autistic. “In a way, [it] was an eye-opener to see that there are other ways of doing things,” Joe told us, echoing one of the themes of Flunked: so many people don’t even know the educational options that are out there. But seeing the many unexplored facets, Joe agrees that we need a system that “[tries] to incorporate the best of everything that you’re exposed to” in our society and the world.
On the matter of what we should be doing to improve education, Joe is a strong supporter of parent involvement. He urges his fellow parents to “Be involved in the schools. Don’t just assume that [your kids] go to school and come back at three o’clock and it’s their business what happens during that time. No, go down there, see what’s going on, make your presence known; see if there’s any way to get involved.”
Our All-Stars! (click for more)
Ben Chavis:
Ben is the principal of American Indian Public Charter in Oakland, California. Since 2001, he has turned what used to be the worst school in the city into one of the top-performing schools in the state.
Steve Barr:
In 1999, Steve founded Green Dot Schools, a group of charter schools in the Los Angeles area, to combat the low-performing norm that hindered local students. Green Dot now operates 5 schools, which have been converted from mainstream public schools to charters, and is in the process of acquiring two more.
Howard Lappin:
Though Howard is currently the Principal of Gertz-Ressler High in LA, he was once the principal who turned Foshay Learning Center around—from the school no one willingly sent their kids to, into a school to which parents would run with homeowners deeds in hand to prove that they lived in Foshay’s district!
Donn Harris:
Donn is the Principal of the San Francisco School of the Arts, a mainstream public charter school that offers its students general academics in the morning and allows them to branch out into specialized areas of the arts in the afternoon. Besides the artistic accomplishments of SFSOTA, its students soar above local peers in standardized testing.
Karen Jones:
Karen is the principal of Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem, New York. Her involvement in the school has boosted the test scores of her students by leaps and bounds.
Angie Dorman:
Angie is a teacher at Warden High School and the winner of the 2006 American Star of Teaching Award for the state of Washington. In addition to teaching Social Studies, Angie has played a critical part in obtaining scholarships and grants for students from low-income, immigrant families.
Bill Proser:
Bill is a teacher of AP and Honors Literature at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy, which he founded in 1999. From the humble beginnings of 200 students housed in a warehouse that was converted to a school in the 11th hour, Coeur d’Alene Charter has secured its place of achievement: In 2007, it was named the National Charter School of the Year.
Matt Sween:
Matt and his wife Christine founded Sierra Academics, a private high school, in fall 2004, where both now teach. A graduate and former faculty member of U.C. Davis, Matt was disappointed to see so many college freshman unprepared for higher education, and started his high school to better equip students with the skills they need for university and for life.
Therese Holliday:
Therese is the founder of the Wyatt Holliday Foundation, an organization designed to help parents of children with autism. The Foundation was named in honor of Therese’s late son, who had Asperger’s syndrome and was tragically killed in a car accident. Based in Olympia, WA, the Wyatt Holliday Foundation is in the process of starting a school designed to meet the needs of other autistic children.
Jason Singer:
Jason is the founder of KIPP Summit Academy, a public middle school in San Lorenzo, California. Based on the core principles of KIPP schools, the Summit Academy operates under “team and family” centered culture based on clear, school-wide expectations for student behavior and a commitment to embodying four core values: responsibility, teamwork, curiosity, and integrity.
Charlie Hoff:
Charlie is a member of the Federal Way School Board of Directors in Federal Way, Washington, and had been an avid supporter of education reform for the duration of his career.
The Schools (click for more)
AMERICAN INDIAN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
Oakland, California“The American Indian Public Charter School serves 200 inner-city students in sixth through ninth grade. The focus of AIPCS is excellent student attendance (99%), which helps to ensure the academic needs of American Indian students and other interested in attending our school. We will provide them with an education to enhance their academic skills in reading, writing, spelling, mathematics, science social science, business, and humanities in order to compete and be productive members in a capitalistic society. This will be a collaborative effort between school, family and community.”
COEUR D’ALENE CHARTER ACADEMY
Coeur D’Alene, Idaho“Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy is dedicated to providing a rigorous, content-rich, college preparatory education for any students who are willing to accept the challenge.”
“Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy exists in order to promote and implement academic excellence in our student body. Further, we seek to ensure that our graduates are knowledgeable and proficient users of language so that they may: succeed in school, participate in our democracy, find challenging and rewarding work, appreciate and contribute to our culture, and pursue their own goals and interests as independent learners throughout their lives.”
GERTZ-RESSLER ACADEMY HIGH
Los Angeles, California“‘Our students outscored nearby schools by more than 200 points.’ The faculty numbers 21 teachers; all core teachers are fully credentialed. A college counselor is also on staff this year who will give special attention to the 200 eleventh graders as their college preparation intensifies. An added strength for Gertz-Ressler students is the eight Advanced Placement classes available in US history, Biology, and Spanish.”
GREEN DOT SCHOOLS
Los Angeles, California“Green Dot is changing the face of secondary education in Los Angeles so that all young adults in Los Angeles receive a high-quality education. To fulfill this mission, Green Dot’s has built great high schools in Los Angeles to prove that urban high schools can be successful with the right model.”
“Green Dot is the only organization with a proven track record of successfully serving secondary students, the highest need student population of Los Angeles. All ten schools are successfully serving students who have traditionally struggled in the public school system. The five Green Dot schools opened prior to 2006 are achieving far greater results than comparable schools on all key metrics.”
“Only two Green Dot schools have had graduating classes to date, and both have produced outstanding results: 79% and 61% of the Class of 2006 from Animo Inglewood and Animo Leadership, respectively, are attending a four-year university in Fall 2006.”
SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
San Francisco, California“The Mission of the SFUSD School of the Arts is to provide a specialized high school program and learning environment which are conducive to creative and independent thinking and artistic and academic excellence for promising students.”
Goals of the School of the Arts
- Provide San Francisco Bay Area students with a specialized visual and performing arts high school of the highest quality.
- Seek and recruit for the School of the Arts talented and gifted students representative of the diverse San Francisco Bay Area population.
- Provide instruction to the SOTA students by highly qualified educators and artists in the school and in community settings.
- Provide a program of instruction in which content from the arts is integrated into traditional non-arts subject areas and includes attention to multi-cultural arts.
- Provide a balance between process and product and between discipline and creativity.”
SIERRA ACADEMICS
Auburn, California“Sierra Academics is not a business, and isn’t run as such. Our tuition and fee schedule are as low as we can make them and still keep the doors open. We consider teaching your child to be the highest of honors and we take the responsibility extremely seriously…Our academic system works…Many of our students have successfully passed AP tests in History, English, and we have even had Freshmen pass the AP Biology exam. These AP exams are currently the highest standard in pre-collegiate academics and aside from helping students compete for scholarships, students can also receive college credits while still in high school.”
SISULU-WALKER CHARTER
Harlem, New York“The mission of the school is to prepare K-5 students living in and around Central Harlem for matriculation to outstanding public, private and parochial middle and high schools by nurturing their intellectual, emotional, artistic and social development. The school is accomplishing this by offering a rigorous and challenging academic curricula taught by a highly-prepared and committed cadre of professional educators. Beginning in kindergarten, we prepare our students for college and a lifetime of achievement, honor and service. Sisulu-Walker is achieving this in a small and supportive learning environment that sets high expectations for all of our students and encourages strong parental and community involvement.”
WARDEN HIGH SCHOOL
Warden, Washington“The Warden School District will work together with the community to encourage the development of productive citizens by providing a safe, creative, and inspirational environment that fosters the growth of each individual student’s capabilities through a variety of educational opportunities.”
The Experts (click for more)
ANDREW COULSON
CATO INSTITUTE“Andrew J. Coulson is the director of Cato’s Center for Educational Freedom. He is the author of the 1999 book Market Education: The Unknown History and a contributor to books published by the Fraser Institute and the Hoover Institution. Coulson has written for numerous academic journals, including the Journal of Research in the Teaching of English and the Education Policy Analysis Archives and for newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal, the Detroit Free Press, and the Seattle Times. He currently serves on the Advisory Council of the E.G. West Centre for Market Solutions in Education at the University of Newcastle, UK. Coulson was a Senior Fellow in Education Policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, and is editor of School Choices. Prior to entering the field of education a decade ago, he was a systems software engineer with Microsoft Corp.”
GUILBERT HENTSCHKE
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA“Guilbert Hentschke is the Richard T. Cooper and Mary Catherine Cooper Chair in Public School Administration at the University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education, where he served as dean from 1998 to 2000. Currently he directs programs in the business of education, including the Galaxy Institute for Education and the school business management program. An author of numerous books and articles on education reform, charter schools, and the business of education, he currently teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on the finance and governance of emerging and traditional educational institutions in the U.S. and abroad.”
“Hentschke currently serves on the boards of directors of several education-oriented organizations, including the Aspen Education Group, Century/LIFT, Excellent Education Development, The National Center on Education and the Economy, WestEd Regional Educational Laboratory, the Education Industry Association, and several Los Angeles charter schools.”
“Prior to his tenure at USC, Hentschke served in academic administrative and faculty positions at the University of Rochester, Columbia University, the Chicago Public Schools, and the East Side Union High School District (CA). He earned his bachelor's degree in history and economics at Princeton University and his masters and doctorate in education and business at Stanford University.”
JOHN MERRIFIELD
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS“John Merrifield is Professor of Economics in the College of Business at the University of Texas, San Antonio, and Research Fellow at the Independent Institute in Oakland, CA; the author of The School Choice Wars (2001) and School Choices (2002).”
The Audience (click for more)
Education is a societal concern. The quality of education affects students, teachers, and parents. It also affects the society as a whole: the education of our students has an impact on the quality of our future leaders, citizens, and workforce.
Thus, the audience for the message of Flunked is indeed quite broad. Teachers and education professionals, students, parents, and concerned citizens all have a stake in this film and its goals.
Several of the featured schools are in low-income, minority, and urban areas. These areas are often at higher risk, and finding educational solutions that work in them is often more challenging…and more striking when they succeed. This focus adds an important sub-category for the film’s general audience: professionals, parents, and students who live and work in these communities.
The Producers(click for more)
STEVEN MAGGI – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Steven is the Executive Producer for EFF Productions. He holds a master’s degree in Intergovernmental Management from the University of Southern California. Steven is the former President/CEO of the Solano County Business and Education Alliance, and he has worked as a consultant in the education and emergency preparedness industries. Steven also has over two decades of experience in the field of media. A former broadcaster, Steven has appeared on numerous radio stations throughout the West.
COREY BURRES – DIRECTOR
Corey Burres is a Multimedia Specialist and graphic designer for EFF Productions. He has experience working with and creating design flash presentations, videos, television programs, and podcasts and also serves as a webmaster. Corey has worked freelance as a web designer and videographer. He graduated from North Central University with a BA in Pastoral Studies and minor in Biblical Studies.
LAUREN ZAMMIT – ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Flunked is Lauren’s first film as a producer. She has a background in writing and theatre arts, and has been involved in various stage productions as playwright, director, actress, and crew member over the past six years.
Film Credits (click for more)
Executive Producer:
Steven R. MaggiAssociate Producers:
Lauren Zammit
Sylvia DeKnight
Douglas L. Ramsey
Mike WackerDirector:
Corey BurresSenior Editor:
John A. NierrasAssociate Editor:
Mike ThompsonVisual Effects & Mograph Artist:
John A. NierrasSenior Colorist:
John DavidsonAdditional “B” Camera:
Daniel Steele
Geoff DunlapOriginal Music Score:
Nick DenkeAdditional Sound:
David BramblettOperations:
Kurt Horn
Paula WynantAdditional Narration:
Jim AndersonCreative Supervisor:
John A. NierrasScreenplay by
Lauren ZammitStory Narration by Joe Mantegna
STARRING:
(In order of appearance)Joe Mantegna
Bill Gates
Bill Cosby
John Merrifield
Andrew Coulson
Charlie Hoff
Bob Herbold
Guilbert Hentschke
Steve Barr
Matt Wingard
Ben Chavis
David Scortt
Angie Dorman
Eric Dominguez
Heidi Dominguez
Karen Jones
Bill Proser
Dan Nicklay
Howard Lappin
Donn Harris
Jason Singer
Matt Sween
Caitlyn Snaring
Traci Snaring
Dennis Pantano
Therese Holliday
Lynn Harsh
Jeff KropfArchival Consultant:
Bryan ShukoffMusic Supervision & Licensing:
The Music Bridge, Ldt.
Sylvia DeKnight
Bryan ShukoffSr. Audio Engineer:
Nick DenkeAudio Engineer:
Jason DevoreDistribution Consultant:
Michelle MorettaProduction Consultants:
Christopher Cook
Judy Cook
Curt Wilson
Coeur Creative GroupPromotional Materials & Support:
Joel SorrellArchival Materials Courtesy of:
Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO)
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
George Bush Presidential Library
George W. Bush Presidential Library
Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library
National Geographic Society
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
William J. Clinton Presidential Library
Soundtrack:
All-Star
Written by Greg Camp
Performed by Smash MouthBetter Do It Right
Written by Greg Camp
Performed by Smash MouthGetting Better
Written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Performed by Smash Mouth5 O’clock World
Written by Allen Reynolds
Performed by Bowling for SoupA Little Less Conversation
Written by Mac Davis, Billy Strange
Performed by Elvis Presley
Special Thanks To:
American Indian Public Charter School
Walter Backstrom
Ruth Berg
The Binz Family
Black Alliance for Educational Options
CATO Institute
Cascade Policy Institute
Castle Rock High School
Coeur D’Alene Charter Academy
Gertz-Ressler High School
Green Dot Schools
KIPP Summit Academy
The McKenzie Family
National Geographic Society
New Market Vocational Skills Center
Oregon Connections Academy
Reason Foundation
Cheryl Rhoades
St. Elizabeth’s Elementary School
San Francisco School of the Arts
Sierra Academics
Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem
The Snaring Family
Lisa Snell
Booker Stallworth
Victory Studios
Warden High School
The Washington Virtual Academy (WAVA)
Wyatt Holliday Foundation
Yakima Valley Skills Center
Wade Zammit
