Rooted School began in 2014. First, as a 15-student pilot in New Orleans. Inspired by the growth of living-wage jobs in the region, Jonathan Johnson (CEO of Rooted School Foundation) experienced teaching in Central City, and grew up living paycheck-to-paycheck, Jonathan believed there was more that could be done to lift those on the lower rungs of the economic ladder up in their lifetime.
Six years, four states later, Rooted School is widely recognized as one of the most innovative public school models in the U.S.
Core to its educational model and belief is that youth are a vastly underutilized talent source in our communities. And, with the right training, high expectations, and a deep sense of possibility the U.S. can leverage teenagers’ talents to meet its increasingly changing workforce demands.
We believe schools can play a bigger role in changing this than they currently are.
Rooted School aims to lay the groundwork for closing this gap in our students’ lifetimes. One way we’re measuring this is by becoming the U.S.’s leading placer of teens into the tens of thousands of jobs opening in their communities over the next decade and beyond that provide a family-sustaining wage.
In August 2022, Rooted School Vancouver will launch as the first charter school to open in southwest Washington State’s history.
We know the journey won’t be easy.
Many will say we can’t do it.
We hope that you’ll join us anyway.