history

I'm Mark Gross, School Loop's founder. On my first day teaching 9th grade Social Studies, I had a dream of knowing my students personally, of earning their trust, of basing my work on their individual needs, of providing immediate feedback and encouragement, of connecting with their families and of working with my peers to help them. One teeny-weeny problem: There were 155 of them and one of me.

Another teeny problem was that after six weeks on the job, district leadership decided that our school needed to be reorganized. The school I taught at was formed to be a small learning community. We were supposed to work together in teams on four mini-campuses, to get to know our students and to collaborate for their success. Well, that turned out to be expensive, so rather than 1400 students, it was decided that we should have 2400.

While still reeling from all this, I was also dealing with being a new teacher. The time demands were crushing, much less the time it took to redo things: Reassign, reexplain, regroup, recheck, recommunicate, recollect, refile, reenter -- Re, re, re! So I pulled together some cool software tools to give me back time to REINVEST my students. We did fantastic things together, culminating in a prize-winning project.

To save time, I built a system of communication and collaboration -- ironically, the building blocks of a small learning community. For every minute I put into the system, the combination of better informed and connected people returned me 10x the time. These tools were a big hit, not only among the people in my schools, my students and their parents, but among people I knew in my former life.

Because I became a teacher late (I had another career as a magazine and Internet executive) people often would ask what it was like. These conversations always devolved into rants at unmotivated, burned out teachers. I couldn't take it: I told them to back off, that we're not the problem . . . the system that sucks the life out of motivated, socially-minded, caring individuals, that makes us work in isolation, that denies us recognition, that ricochets between reforms -- small school one day...poof! -- that makes scapegoats and fall-guys of us, all while we struggle to keep our first-day dreams alive, that is the problem...the system is the problem.

So I set out to build School Loop, because if we can keep that dream alive for as many teachers as possible the rest of our dreams have a better chance of coming true. Along the way, a miracle happened: I met Tom Burns, my partner and School Loop's engineer. He's the one guy in the universe that could have made all this go, and he did. Then another miracle: Teachers everywhere started helping out. I can't thank them all, but I can name a few who inspired, motivated, helped, took a chance, and every once in a while, kicked us in the butt during our first years.

Mark Gross
Teacher/Dad
School Loop's CEO and Founder

I can never thank you all enough:

Dede Tisone: My BTSA mentor, my muse, the lady wagging her finger
Irwin Gross: My dad, a college prof, who gave School Loop its name
Jim Spellicy: My master teacher who saved me when all seemed lost
Joel Herrera: Hired me at EVHS and made me stick to my promises
Tim McDonough: My principal...I could never do what you do, Timbo
Dennis Barbata: We've come a long way, baby
Gary Redillas: My math partner, a guy who gives his heart every day
Remy Haley: Your faith is so real it can be touched
Melinda Panes: You turn kids into writers, Melinda, a miracle
Valerie Arbizu: One of the most gifted individuals I know
Jan Gliozzo: Willing to try anything, a true friend
Bernadette Salgarino: Real-name publishing was for you, B
Helen Williams: Passion, commitment, integrity...wow
Virginia Yenter: Your new baby is a very, very lucky kid
Susie Martin: We built this for you, Susie.
Nelson Martinez: Moo...oink.
Everyone at EVHS: All my buds, too many...love you all.
Art Darin: Took one look and said, "We're in". What guts.
Kyle Brumbaugh: His Dudeness. Whenever you want a job...
Tom Willard: The nicest guy I know.
Jim Burke: Too dedicated, smart, caring and giving to believe.
Jan Half: You are an honorary teacher, in my book.
Shelley Luke-Wille: Crystal clear vision and the energy to make it so
Kathleen Leal -- You make it happen, every day
Todd Seal -- So full of ideas it's hard to know where to begin.
Jason Dries -- I wish I was in your class, Captain.
Gary Meissner -- Ta-ko's anyone?
Michelle Bruce -- You are just so spot on all the time.
Adam Potolsky -- Great ideas, Adam... hold us accountable
Nancy Freschi -- Charge!
Gail Long -- Can anything stop this woman?
Patti Gregory -- A guiding light.
George Knights -- Inspired, insane, brilliant..lucky us.
Ted McComb -- I just love hearing you talk, Ted.
Tim Reece -- Mr. Calm.
Kenny Moe -- Mr. Not Calm. Love you, dude. Surf's up!
Tricia Bolster -- You are why we do this, Tricia.
Kate Jamentz -- You have no idea of your influence on me.
Anne Bailey -- Okay, so you're not a teacher. You took such a big shot.

school loop. all together now.