Don't Count Me Out Documentary

with William Parrett and Kathleen Budge, and featuring Tiffany Anderson

Watch an excerpt

In a poor, primarily African-American community like Jennings, Missouri, it was easy to count students and schools out. But Dr. Tiffany Anderson wasn't going to let that happen.

In 2012, the Jennings School District was one of the lowest performing school districts in the state of Missouri. Eighty-five percent of students lived in poverty. Just fifty-seven percent of students were meeting state standards, and the district was dangerously close to a takeover by the state. To get back on track, the school board hired a new superintendent, Dr. Tiffany Anderson. With her positive attitude and her signature tennis shoes, Anderson launched remarkable initiatives to engage the community while tackling obstacles students face outside of school that affect how they perform in the classroom. Almost immediately, the school system improved. But when protests and riots erupted in the neighboring town of Ferguson after the shooting death of Michael Brown, all the progress Jennings was making seemed to be at risk.

In Don't Count Me Out, see the story of a remarkable superintendent and a school district that beat the odds.

This ASCD video includes closed captioning.

Note: For a limited time, this video is a free rental through ASCD Streaming Video.

Watch an Excerpt from the Video

Related Video

The Teaching Attire, an ASCD animated video short featuring Tiffany Anderson.

About the Consultants

William Parrett is the director of the Center for School Improvement & Policy Studies and professor of education at Boise State University. He has received international recognition for his work in school improvement, small schools, alternative education, and for his efforts to help youth at risk. His professional experiences include public school and university teaching, curriculum design, principalships and college leadership.

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Kathleen Budge is the coordinator of the Leadership Development Program at Boise State University. She has led the development of this innovative, nontraditional preparation program, the purpose of which is to develop leaders who have the commitment and capabilities to lead schools where all students succeed.

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Tiffany Anderson has been a public school educator for 22 years. She spent 18 of those years in administrator roles that included superintendent, assistant superintendent, chief academic officer, and principal. She has improved achievement and closed achievement gaps in rural, urban, and suburban public school districts.

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