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S2 E12 Passing the Baton
In this episode of the National Charter Schools Institute Bold By Choice Podcast, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Don Cooper continue the Founders Library series with one of the most personal and powerful stories yet — the story behind KIPP: The Knowledge Is Power Program, and the teacher whose wisdom and love shaped its DNA.
David Levin, co-founder of KIPP, shares how one extraordinary educator, Harriet Ball, changed the course of his life — and in doing so, changed the course of public education. From his early struggles as a first-year teacher in Houston to his partnership with Mike Feinberg, Levin recalls the lessons Harriet taught him: “It’s never the kids,” “Meet them where they are,” and “Teach with love.”
What began as mentorship became a movement. Harriet’s famous classroom chant —
“You gotta read, baby, read. The more you read, the more you know. Knowledge is power. Power is freedom.”
— inspired not only the name of KIPP, but a national philosophy of empowerment through learning.
Levin’s reflections remind us that at the heart of every bold reform is a human connection — one teacher passing the baton to another.
Key Takeaways
1. Mentorship That Sparked a Movement
When a struggling teacher met a master educator, magic happened. Harriet Ball didn’t just teach lessons — she modeled joy, rigor, and unconditional love. Her mentorship turned frustration into inspiration and helped launch one of America’s most recognized charter school networks.
“She taught in 45 minutes what I had failed to teach all year long.” — David Levin
2. The Lessons of Harriet Ball
Levin credits Harriet with teaching him three enduring truths:
It’s never the kids — success begins with the teacher’s mindset.
Meet students where they are — academically and emotionally.
Teach with love — even when students don’t make it easy.
These principles became the moral framework of KIPP, and countless schools were influenced by its model.
3. From Song to System
Harriet’s chant — “Knowledge is power. Power is freedom.” — became KIPP’s name and mantra. It also symbolized the larger idea behind chartering: that knowledge liberates, and educators have the power to reimagine how students learn.
4. Sharing, Not Competing
Harriet’s only request was simple: “Share what I’ve taught you.” Levin and Feinberg carried that ethos forward, creating an open-door policy where any educator could visit KIPP schools, observe, and learn. That spirit of collaboration extended to partnerships with Uncommon Schools, Achievement First, and the creation of Relay Graduate School of Education — a modern relay of teaching excellence.
5. The Baton Keeps Moving
From Harriet’s fourth-grade classroom to KIPP’s national network and beyond, this story is about legacy — educators passing wisdom, courage, and compassion from one generation to the next.
“It’s never the kids. It’s on us.” — David Levin
Reflection from the Hosts
Vashaunta Harris:
“This story resonates with me deeply as a former TFAer. Dave’s realization that ‘it’s not the kids — it’s me’ is one of the most powerful shifts any teacher can make. That mindset is where leadership begins.”
Don Cooper:
“Harriet Ball’s mentorship didn’t just shape KIPP — it reshaped the movement. Her lessons on joy, rigor, and love became the DNA of great teaching everywhere.”
Together, the hosts reflect on how mentorship, humility, and shared purpose continue to define the best of the charter movement — and how Harriet Ball’s legacy remains a guiding light.
Show Notes & Resources
Explore the stories and archives mentioned in this episode:
A School Founder’s History: Dave Levin
Interview of Richard Whitmire – The Founders
The Founders – eBook PDF
The Linda Brown Collection
Pioneers and Practitioners: Freedom Preparatory Academy
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow educator who believes that knowledge is power — and that power is freedom.
Subscribe to keep learning from the founders and the teachers who keep the torch lit.
View all episodes
By National Charter Schools InstituteIn this episode of the National Charter Schools Institute Bold By Choice Podcast, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Don Cooper continue the Founders Library series with one of the most personal and powerful stories yet — the story behind KIPP: The Knowledge Is Power Program, and the teacher whose wisdom and love shaped its DNA.
David Levin, co-founder of KIPP, shares how one extraordinary educator, Harriet Ball, changed the course of his life — and in doing so, changed the course of public education. From his early struggles as a first-year teacher in Houston to his partnership with Mike Feinberg, Levin recalls the lessons Harriet taught him: “It’s never the kids,” “Meet them where they are,” and “Teach with love.”
What began as mentorship became a movement. Harriet’s famous classroom chant —
“You gotta read, baby, read. The more you read, the more you know. Knowledge is power. Power is freedom.”
— inspired not only the name of KIPP, but a national philosophy of empowerment through learning.
Levin’s reflections remind us that at the heart of every bold reform is a human connection — one teacher passing the baton to another.
Key Takeaways
1. Mentorship That Sparked a Movement
When a struggling teacher met a master educator, magic happened. Harriet Ball didn’t just teach lessons — she modeled joy, rigor, and unconditional love. Her mentorship turned frustration into inspiration and helped launch one of America’s most recognized charter school networks.
“She taught in 45 minutes what I had failed to teach all year long.” — David Levin
2. The Lessons of Harriet Ball
Levin credits Harriet with teaching him three enduring truths:
It’s never the kids — success begins with the teacher’s mindset.
Meet students where they are — academically and emotionally.
Teach with love — even when students don’t make it easy.
These principles became the moral framework of KIPP, and countless schools were influenced by its model.
3. From Song to System
Harriet’s chant — “Knowledge is power. Power is freedom.” — became KIPP’s name and mantra. It also symbolized the larger idea behind chartering: that knowledge liberates, and educators have the power to reimagine how students learn.
4. Sharing, Not Competing
Harriet’s only request was simple: “Share what I’ve taught you.” Levin and Feinberg carried that ethos forward, creating an open-door policy where any educator could visit KIPP schools, observe, and learn. That spirit of collaboration extended to partnerships with Uncommon Schools, Achievement First, and the creation of Relay Graduate School of Education — a modern relay of teaching excellence.
5. The Baton Keeps Moving
From Harriet’s fourth-grade classroom to KIPP’s national network and beyond, this story is about legacy — educators passing wisdom, courage, and compassion from one generation to the next.
“It’s never the kids. It’s on us.” — David Levin
Reflection from the Hosts
Vashaunta Harris:
“This story resonates with me deeply as a former TFAer. Dave’s realization that ‘it’s not the kids — it’s me’ is one of the most powerful shifts any teacher can make. That mindset is where leadership begins.”
Don Cooper:
“Harriet Ball’s mentorship didn’t just shape KIPP — it reshaped the movement. Her lessons on joy, rigor, and love became the DNA of great teaching everywhere.”
Together, the hosts reflect on how mentorship, humility, and shared purpose continue to define the best of the charter movement — and how Harriet Ball’s legacy remains a guiding light.
Show Notes & Resources
Explore the stories and archives mentioned in this episode:
A School Founder’s History: Dave Levin
Interview of Richard Whitmire – The Founders
The Founders – eBook PDF
The Linda Brown Collection
Pioneers and Practitioners: Freedom Preparatory Academy
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow educator who believes that knowledge is power — and that power is freedom.
Subscribe to keep learning from the founders and the teachers who keep the torch lit.