Meet Ally Wright

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ally Wright.

Ally, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in the Inland Empire, between Alta Loma and Rialto. I am the oldest child of a white mother and Black father, a union that didn’t excite either side of the family for fear of the discrimination it would bring. In elementary school, I was identified by my principal as someone to invest an interest in, as she was also biracial, Black and Japanese. I didn’t know what a principal did, but I knew she was the boss of all the adults in the school, and she seemed so powerful. Education became my way to cope as I grew older and helped me get out of the abuse I experience in my home as a teenager. I often say that education saved my life, and it’s no exaggeration. When I went to college, I couldn’t escape the calling of becoming a teacher. I was fortunate to be selected as one of two recipients of the Woodrow Wilson Rockefeller Brothers Fund for Aspiring Teachers Fellowship while at UC Santa Barbara.

Through that fellowship, I was able to attend Brown University on a full-ride scholarship. After earning my MAT (Masters of Arts in Teaching), I wanted to come back to the West Coast. I decided to apply to schools in Los Angeles, and I got my first teaching job as a founding teacher at a middle school in Watts. My grandparents are from Long Beach and South LA, so it felt like going back to serve their home, my community. After leaving my first school, I was hired as a 9th-grade teacher at USC Hybrid High, a charter high school serving South LA. I always wanted to pursue high school, and I knew I’d found my calling. Hybrid High became my home away from home, and I loved working there. It was while working at Hybrid that I married my now husband, and we welcomed our first child, Ezra, now five years old. As a charter high school, USC Hybrid High has a lottery for students. Each year, families showed a high demand to attend our school.

With the popularity of our school, my administration encouraged me to apply for a principal position to open a second school to serve South LA. I applied, and I was fortunate to be chosen. Our school opened virtually in 2020 with 136 9th graders. Over 90 of those students are still with us today in year 3, and next year they will be our first graduating class in June of 2024. Our Knights are all my bonus kids, and parents know when they choose South LA College Prep, they are choosing the school I am working tirelessly every day to be good enough for my own child, that’s the promise I make to them for their four years with us.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My mother struggles with a mental illness, and though our relationship is incredible now, it was a challenging way to grow up. My father and I no longer have a relationship, and though that has been hard, it was the best decision for me and my family to end contact. In high school, I often say education saved my life. This was largely because I struggled with suicidal ideation and made an attempt on my life. Shortly after that, I was without a place to live, and I was taken in by one of teachers and her husband. They were my temporary home until graduation, and I will always be grateful for the role they played in my life.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the founding principal of South LA College Prep. I started our school from the ground up, recruiting students and families, hiring a team, and launching. As a principal, I would say I’m very hands on. I’m always seen running around our school, making sure kids are safe and feel supported. Our school’s rally cry this year was inspired by bell hooks, “Love is a verb,” and you can really feel that in our space. I am the only sitting Black principal in our six schools and the longest-tenured Black woman in our organization, Ednovate. I name this because I may be one of few now, but I will work hard to ensure that’s not true for long.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Our school opened virtually in August of 2020, and it was truly one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. I learned a lot about myself as a leader, how to keep morale with a team, and how to connect with students amidst the challenges. For me, it all came back to love and compassion. Our students were so proud of our little baby school, they were crying at our virtual end of year awards. Through over 100 home visits, a daily video reminding kids that I loved them, and a whole lot of support, over 95% of our students passed all of their classes that year, and we’ve kept up that rate since.

Pricing:

• Our school is 100% free.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ednovate.org/south-la
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southlacollegeprep/

Image Credits
Mychal Brandon Photography