Dr. Mike Feinberg is President and Co-Founder of Texas School Venture Fund (TXSVF) and Career For All, with the mission to increase the supply and diversity of great schools in communities where families want more options. Career For All has incubated several schools and organizations including Eastex Jensen Neighborhood School, Westchase Neighborhood School, WorkTexas adult trade school, WorkTexas Premier High School at Gallery Furniture, Neighborhood Preschools, Project Remix Ventures at Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, and the Shawn M. Hurwitz Fellowship for education leaders.
Prior to TXSVF, Mike co-founded and led KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program), a national network of over 270 public charter schools PreK – 12th grade that prepares students in underserved communities for success in college and life.
Dr. Feinberg co-founded KIPP in 1994, and established KIPP Academy Houston a year later. In 2000, he co-founded the KIPP Foundation to help take KIPP to scale. In 2004, Dr. Feinberg was named an Ashoka Fellow, awarded to leading social entrepreneurs with innovative solutions and the potential to change patterns across society.
In 2005, Mike was the commencement speaker for the University of Pennsylvania College of Arts and Sciences. Also in 2005, he led the effort to start a public K-8 school in Houston for Hurricane Katrina evacuees from New Orleans. The school, NOW College Prep (New Orleans West), opened in 10 days. Mike’s efforts became the story told by Washington Post reporter, Jay Mathews, in his book “Work hard. Be nice.” Mike has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, CBS 60 Minutes, and more.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I help as needed in the various charter schools, trade schools, and childcares that we helped start, and I also look for ways in which these different schools can leverage each other’s efforts to better support the students, their families, and the community as a whole.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I have learned that there is 100x more to learn by doing something than by thinking and white boarding it. Therefore I bring ideas to life by thoughtfully planning but more importantly executing on those ideas. A journey of a 1,000 miles begins with a single step.
What’s one trend that excites you?
It seems that society is coming to realize that the “college for all” mentality that my generate of education reform helped perpetuate was an over-reach, and our education systems need to be more mindful of preparing all children for successful and sustainable careers post secondary, that may or may not include attending college.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive?
I reverse engineer our goals and efforts to figure out how to work productively, paying close attention to the places along the path that create the most difficult constraints. Is is those times and places involving the constraints that get most of my time and attention.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Trust your gut and keep your legs turning.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
The US education system consisting of districts governed by elected school boards is broken beyond repair for districts larger than 20,000 children.
As an executive, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Think about what it is like to be led and managed by you, and use that perspective to help coach people effectively and hold people accountable for great results.
What is one failure you had, and how did you overcome it?
I was a horrible 5th grade bilingual teacher when I started teaching in 1992. I found the master teachers in my school building and district and did everything I could to emulate the best practices from what they were doing in their classrooms.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
70% of US children will not graduate from college. They all need post secondary skills to be set up for success in the workplace and life. There is enormous demand and need to education and train the majority of children as they become young adults.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I send my son to a chiropractor to adjust his back and hips in preparation for him defending his state high jump championship. I am so proud of my children and how hard they work to achieving the success they want in life.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
Outlook email and folder. I use them for organizing my management of my school leaders and with a skinny inbox, it helps me remember and prioritize my to-do’s.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Sneetches and On Beyond Zebra by Dr. Seuss. Sneeches reminds us how to treat others. On Beyond Zebra reminds us to value creative, new ideas.
What is your favorite quote?
“Pain can’t stop a pro” – Coach Mike Ditka
Key learnings:
- Learning by doing is far more effective than just thinking and planning.
- Not all students need to follow the traditional college path.
- Productivity is driven by hands-on involvement and practical problem-solving.