Born to Rise: A Story of Children and Teachers Reaching Their Highest Potential – A Memoir and Manifesto on Creating Workplace Culture That Inspires Passion

“Parents and principals trying to understand what makes successful schools work ought to read Born to Rise.”  — New York Times

The inspiring account of Deborah Kenny’s pursuit of social justice for our nation’s most vulnerable children. Part memoir, part manifesto, it is a hopeful and practical exposition of what it takes to transform schools and create organizations where the staff lights up with entrepreneurial drive. 

Students enter Harlem Village Academies, the network of charter schools Kenny founded, several years behind grade level, but in just a few years they are transformed, ranking among the highest in the nation. How did they do it? For the first time, Kenny reveals the secret to creating a powerful workplace culture that attracts the most talented people and brings out their passion and highest performance—a culture that produces stunning student achievement results and teachers who regularly use words like “magical” to describe the workplace environment. It is a must-read for anyone who cares about children and the future of this country and for leaders who want to inspire fierce dedication in their employees.

How can one person challenge a failing system—and win?

• Inspirational Memoir: After unimaginable personal loss, founder Deborah Kenny channels her grief into a powerful mission: creating world-class schools for Harlem’s children.
• A New Leadership Philosophy: Discover why treating teachers like knowledge workers, not factory workers, is the secret to unlocking passion, innovation, and stunning student achievement.
• Powerful Workplace Culture: Go inside Harlem Village Academies, where teachers describe the environment as "magical" and entrepreneurial drive transforms schools from the ground up.
• A Blueprint for Education Reform: Part memoir and part manifesto, this book offers a practical and hopeful model for anyone looking to challenge bureaucracy and create meaningful change.

Deborah Kenny is founder and CEO of Harlem Village Academies, a network of public charter schools. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential educational entrepreneurs in the country and is regularly featured in national television and print media. Kenny holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University in comparative international education and a B.A. Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in New York City.