Stacey Cruise

Stacey Cruise

CEO


American Paradigm Schools

Philadelphia, PA US


A piece of your life's work has to be to help other people. In every profession, you can find that-a way that you're doing something to make someone else's life better-because, in the long run, that's what it's all about anyway.

Videos

By Roadtrip Nation

Stacey Cruise

Milestones

My road in life has been direct.
When she was in high school, she realized she needed to be a teacher, because she'd never felt a connection to any of her own teachers.
In her high school class of 1,000 students, she was one of about 20 black students.
When it was time to choose a college, she gravitated towards historically black schools, eventually choosing Spelman College.
She loved college, and she felt more connected than she did in high school, but she still didn't find a teacher she liked.
Realized that what was missing from each school was teachers who actually took the time to get to know their students.
Identified two things that had to change at the schools she works with: the buildings had to be safer, but they had to refrain from feeling like prisons.
When students came to their new schools and saw how bright and hopeful the buildings were, it lifted their spirits.
Says although she's not there to be the students' friend, no matter how strict she gets, she lets the students know that she deeply cares about them.
Keep following my journey

Career

CEO

I change problem schools from being like prisons to being more safe, open, and caring.

Career Roadmap

Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Non-Profit Organizations
Teaching / Mentoring

Interviewed By

Connecting the Dots

Connecting the Dots

In Washington D.C., the road-trippers interview human rights attorney Brittan Heller who speaks about "connecting the dots" of one's inklings instead of forcing life into a direction. Later, in Philadelphia, the team speaks to race car mechanic Sal Donato before interviewing Christine Borelli and Stacey Cruise, two educators who worked to revitalize a crime-ridden school.