Seth Andrew

Seth Andrew is an American entrepreneur best known for being on the team that founded Democracy Prep Public Schools, a national network of charter schools based in Harlem, and Democracy Builders, a social sector incubator that launched Washington Leadership Academy, the Arena Summit, and Degrees of Freedom.

Andrew in 2012

Education and Career

Andrew attended the Bronx High School of Science, earned his A.B. from Brown University, and his Ed.M from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.[1]

In 2005, Andrew founded Democracy Prep Public Schools in Harlem, New York. The network has grown to serve more than 6,500 students in New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, Nevada, and Texas.[2] Democracy Prep has been the subject of significant academic research due to its emphasis on civic engagement and unique financial model that relies exclusively on public dollars.[3][4][5][6][7] From 2014 to 2016, Andrew served as senior advisor and superintendent-in-residence at the U.S. Department of Education and was a senior advisor in the Office of Educational Technology at the White House under the Presidency of Barack Obama.[8]

In 2020, under Andrew’s leadership, Democracy Builders and Marlboro College announced that Democracy Builders would acquire the Marlboro College campus in order to build a low-residency, low-cost college program for low-income students.[9][10][11] The Degrees of Freedom program would last four years, from eleventh grade to the second year of college, and would result in an associate degree. The program is slated to be largely online, with students only being on campus two weeks out of each trimester.[12]

Controversy

In June 2020, Andrew was the subject of allegations of racism by "Black N Brown at DP", an anonymous group of Democracy Prep students, alumni, and present/former staff of color.[13][14] The social media account claims that that both Andrew himself and the schools he headed were built on an education system of systemic racism and manipulative behavior towards people of color. Andrew responded to the accusations in a June 24 post on Medium, which he later deleted. In the essay, Andrew apologized for his past mistakes and made promises regarding his future conduct.[15]

The Marlboro Selectboard called on the Marlboro College Board of Trustees to investigate allegations of racism at Democracy Prep Charter Schools.[16] The Marlboro Alumni Council condemned Andrew, and called for the sale of the college to be cancelled,[17] Despite the accusations, the Marlboro College Board of Trustees announced they would proceed with the sale following their investigation into the largely anonymous allegations.

In July 2020, Andrew and members of Degrees of Freedom claimed that the "Black N Brown at DP" collective were creating false narratives and stories in order to deter the purchase of Marlboro College. The members of Degrees of Freedom spoke with reporters stating that they intend to listen to these voices and open a conversation about how to move forward.[18]

During a July 20, Town of Marlboro Select Board public meeting regarding the sale of Marlboro College to Andrew and Democracy Builders, the identity of a member of "Black N Brown at DP" who testified anonymously was revealed by two Democracy Prep supporters without her consent.[19][20]

Personal life

Andrew is married to CBS News correspondent Lana Zak.[21] The couple have three children.[22]

References
  1. "EdReform University". Center for Education Reform. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  2. "Democracy Prep Public Schools". About. Democracy Prep Public Schools. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  3. "Education Next: Q&A: Seth Andrew". 19 (3). Education Next. Summer 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  4. Mahnken, Kevin (April 10, 2019). "Photo Tour: The Students, Educators, Classrooms & Activism That Define Democracy Prep, a School Network Built Around Civics". The74. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  5. Mahnken, Kevin (April 10, 2019). "How Democracy Prep Is Drawing Upon Civics to Challenge Its Students to 'Change the World' — Before They Graduate". The74. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  6. Mahnken, Kevin (April 10, 2019). "Democracy Prep's Expansion Woes Raise Questions About Whether Civics Education Can Be Brought to Scale". The74. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  7. Pondiscio, Robert (May 1, 2018). "Contributing to a 'More Perfect Union': Mathematica Study of Civic Engagement of Students at Democracy Prep Is Encouraging but Only a Beginning". The74. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  8. "ResearchED". ResearchEd.org. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  9. French, Ellie (May 28, 2020). "Marlboro College announces campus sale to Democracy Builders". VT Digger. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  10. Visconti, Ambrogio. "Democracy Builders' Acquisition of Marlboro College". Global Legal Chronicle. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  11. Audette, Bob (May 28, 2020). "New model of higher education could take root in Marlboro". The Bennington Banner. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  12. St. Amour, Madeline (May 29, 2020). "Marlboro to Become New 2-Year Program". Inside Higher Education. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  13. https://medium.com/@wearetheseeds2020/we-aint-buying-it-1d64fc03c0f
  14. Duffort, Lola (July 9, 2020). "Questions raised about Marlboro College buyer in 11th hour". VT Digger. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  15. Andrew, Seth Reflections on Race & Democracy Prephttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1elFZrdoRpKaJEKYfy01RcA4zWBzhvgSM/view
  16. Audette, Bob (July 14, 2020). "Anonymous allegations roil Marlboro College sale". Brattleboro Reformer. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  17. Seitz, Jacob (4 July 2020). "Marlboro Alumni condemn campus sale amid reports of racism at Democracy Builders". Berkeley Beacon. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  18. https://www.reformer.com/stories/anonymous-allegations-roil-marlboro-college-sale,609219
  19. Bailey, Lindsay (July 28, 2020). "Still I Rise". Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  20. Gander, MacLean (July 29, 2020). "College's assets disperse from Potash Hill". The Commons. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  21. Donnelly, Shannon (2004-08-29). "WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS: VOWS; Lana Zak and Seth Andrew". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  22. "Lana Zak". ABC Radio. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
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