By Ava Simone Collier

Dr. Steve Perry is the Founder of The Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, Connecticut. He is also the principal of this innovative and highly successful school, which proudly sends 100% of their graduates on to attend four year colleges. Dr. Perry and his school were featured on a segment from last year’s Black in America 2 on CNN. I recently spoke with Dr. Perry and asked him what makes Capital Preparatory so successful. “We work really hard to design a school that is capable of sending children to college. We go to school longer, 12 months; we attend school for almost 8 hours a day for 6 days a week. I have a team of very talented professionals whose entire purpose is to fulfill our goal: to send children to college. We let the students know that no one or nothing can stand in the way of their success.”

Principal Perry shared that at one time he wanted to be the mayor of his hometown in Hartford, Connecticut. However, he says that it’s his mission in life to educate our youth. “It needs to be done. I’m called to do what I do. Mine is a life that is as typical as many people. I’ve had the opportunity to go to college and graduate school and live a very wonderful life. I’m compelled to extend the same that I have been given to others who don’t have it. Also, I’m inspired because it’s the right thing to do.” Dr. Perry admits that he’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination just because he is doing something good. “It’s just that I have committed my life to improving the lives of others.”

As with many schools, parent participation is not always evident. In his dedication to providing the best opportunities for students to excel, Dr. Perry often picks students up from their homes and drives them to Capital Prep. Although the lack of parental involvement is a disappointment, Dr. Perry reflects on the bigger picture. “All that really means in the end is that those of us who have degrees and certifications to educate just have to be better at our jobs. You don’t need a degree to be a parent, but you do need one to be a teacher and many to be a principal. Our students have an academic family who is unwilling to accept anything less than their best. We have to be expected to pull the heavy weight. To whom much is given, much is expected.”

This husband, father and author of five books stated that he does not feel that what he is doing is so different from what many other front-line people do everyday. He explained that there are social workers, church leaders and other concerned citizens who are steadfast in helping our children. He humbly continued, “I want people to understand that whatever time I have left in my ‘15 minutes,’ that there are many others who do what I do. There’s nothing amazing about it. I’m just like so many of us who believe so deeply in our children that they’re willing to do whatever they have to do to make it right. Where you begin in life does not determine where you end. You can determine where you end when you do what you need to do to have the best life for yourself.”

To find out more about Dr. Steve Perry and The Capital Preparatory Magnet School, visit www.capitalprep.org. He is also the Education Contributor on CNN. If you missed his segment on Black in America 2, please go to Youtube and type in Black in America 2--Principal Steve Perry.