Seth Andrew

Last updated
Seth Andrew
Seth Andrew (6669064877).jpg
Seth Andrew in 2012
Born1979 (age 44–45)
EducationBronx High School of Science, A.B., Brown University, Ed.M., Harvard Graduate School of Education
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, Educator, Consultant

Seth Andrew (born 1979) [1] is an American entrepreneur who helped found Democracy Prep Public Schools, a national network of charter schools based in Harlem, and Democracy Builders, a social sector incubator that launched Washington Leadership Academy, the Arena Summit, and Degrees of Freedom. He was an advisor to former President Barack Obama. In April 2021, Andrew was arrested for allegedly embezzling over $200,000 from Democracy Prep. He pled guilty to one charge of wire fraud in January 2022, and in July 2022 was sentenced to 366 days in prison. He was released in May 2023. [2]

Contents

Education

Andrew attended the Bronx High School of Science, earned his A.B. from Brown University, and his Ed.M from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. [3]

Career

Democracy Prep

In 2005, Andrew founded Democracy Prep Public Schools in Harlem, New York. The network has grown to serve more than 6,500 students in New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, Nevada, and Texas. [4] Democracy Prep has been the subject of significant academic research due to its emphasis on civic engagement and unique financial model that relies exclusively on public dollars. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Obama administration

From 2014 to 2016, Andrew served as senior advisor and superintendent-in-residence at the U.S. Department of Education and was a senior advisor in the Office of Educational Technology under the Presidency of Barack Obama. [10]

Bridge International Academies

From 2017 to 2018, Andrew was Global Director of Policy & Partnerships at Bridge International Academies [11] [12]

Degrees of Freedom

In 2020, under Andrew’s leadership, Democracy Builders and Marlboro College announced that Democracy Builders would acquire the Marlboro College campus in order to build a low-residency, low-cost college program for low-income students. [13] [14] [15] The Degrees of Freedom program would last four years, from eleventh grade to the second year of college, and would result in an associate degree. The program is slated to be largely online, with students only being on campus two weeks out of each trimester. [16]

In February 2021, Andrew announced that Democracy Builders had sold the campus to "Type 1 Civilization Academy" via a quitclaim deed. [17] On March 9, 2021, During an invitation-only community meeting on Zoom, Andrew announced that the Type 1 deal had been cancelled. He called the agreement "an engagement" rather than "a marriage". [18] Andrew filed another quit claim deed which transferred the property back to Democracy Builders. The principal of Type 1, Adrian Stein, said that Type 1 was legitimately in control of the campus and that the issue will likely end up in court unless they can find "some other kind of equitable settlement." [19]

Degrees of Freedom is currently partnered with Doral College, a Florida-based educational institution. [20]

Racism allegations

In June 2020, Andrew was the subject of allegations of racism by "Black N Brown at DP", an anonymous group of Democracy Prep students, alumni, and present/former staff of color. The social media account claims that both Andrew himself and the schools he headed were built on an education system of systemic racism and manipulative behavior towards people of color. Andrew responded to the accusations in a June 24 post on Medium, which he later deleted. In the essay, Andrew apologized for his past mistakes and made promises regarding his future conduct. [21]

The Marlboro Selectboard called on the Marlboro College Board of Trustees to investigate allegations of racism at Democracy Prep Charter Schools. [22] The Marlboro Alumni Council condemned Andrew, and called for the sale of the college to be cancelled. [23] Despite the accusations, the Marlboro College Board of Trustees announced they would proceed with the sale following their investigation into the allegations.

In July 2020, Andrew and members of Degrees of Freedom claimed that the "Black N Brown at DP" collective were creating false narratives and stories in order to deter the purchase of Marlboro College. [24]

During a July 20, Town of Marlboro Select Board public meeting regarding the sale of Marlboro College to Andrew and Democracy Builders, the identity of a member of "Black N Brown at DP" who testified anonymously was revealed by two Democracy Prep supporters without her consent. [25]

Arrest and Conviction

In April 2021, Andrew was arrested and charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements to a financial institution. Andrew was alleged to have embezzled $218,005 from bank accounts controlled by Democracy Prep Public Schools. Initially prosecutors alleged that Andrew embezzled this money in order to receive a lower mortgage rate for a multimillion dollar Manhattan apartment which he and his wife bought in August 2019. [26] [27] [28] [29] This claim was later withdrawn by the prosecution. Instead, prosecutors claimed that Andrew was frustrated that the school network refused to rehire him for $25,000 per month. [30]

Andrew was released on $500,000 bond. He was ordered to remain in Vermont, where he lived at the time. [31] In January, 2022, Andrew pleaded guilty to moving more than $200,000 from bank accounts controlled by Democracy Prep to other non-profit entities he founded. [32] On July 28, 2022, Andrew was sentenced to 366 days in prison by United States District Judge John P. Cronan in connection with his execution of a scheme to defraud Democracy Prep Public Schools (“DPPS”), a charter school network that he founded, of more than $218,000. The funds were eventually used to purchase the campus of the former Marlboro College, for Democracy Builders. [33]

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, Seth Andrew's appeal of his conviction was dismissed by The Second Circuit Court of Appeals. [34]

Personal life

Andrew is married to CBS News anchor Lana Zak. [35] [36] The couple have three children. [37]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlboro College</span> Private coeducational liberal arts college in Marlboro, Vermont

Marlboro College was a private college in Marlboro, Vermont. Founded in 1946, it remained intentionally small, operating as a self-governing community with students following self-designed degree plans culminating in a thesis. In 1998, the college added a graduate school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windham County, Vermont</span> County in Vermont, United States

Windham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45,905. The shire town is Newfane, and the largest municipality is the town of Brattleboro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emerson College</span> Private university in Boston, Massachusetts, US

Emerson College is a private college with its main campus in Boston, Massachusetts. It also maintains campuses in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, and in Well, Limburg, Netherlands. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," the college offers more than three dozen degree and professional training programs specializing in the fields of arts and communication with a foundation in liberal arts studies. The college is one of the founding members of the ProArts Consortium, an association of six neighboring institutions in Boston dedicated to arts education at the collegiate level. Emerson is also notable for the college's namesake public opinion poll, Emerson College Polling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Bridgeport</span> Private university in Bridgeport, Connecticut, US

The University of Bridgeport is a private university in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. In 2021, the university was purchased by Goodwin University; it retained its own name, brand, and board of trustees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northfield Mount Hermon School</span> School in Gill, Massachusetts, United States

Northfield Mount Hermon School, is a co-educational college-preparatory school in Gill, Massachusetts. It educates boarding and day students in grades 9–12, as well as post-graduate students. It is a member of the Eight Schools Association and the Six Schools League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaplan, Inc.</span> International educational services company

Kaplan, Inc. is an international educational services company that provides educational and training services to colleges, universities, businesses and individuals around the world. Founded in 1938 by Stanley Kaplan, the company offers a variety of test preparation, certifications, and student support services. The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renaissance 2010</span>


Renaissance 2010 was a program of the Chicago Public Schools school district of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Pushed by for-profit education companies, Renaissance 2010 initiative was announced in June 2004 by the Chicago Public Schools and the City of Chicago. Renaissance 2010 called for 100 new schools by 2010. Under Renaissance 2010, the Chicago Public Schools closed over 80 public schools, and sought to create 100 charter schools by 2010. These schools were to be held accountable for test score performance through 5-year contracts while following one of three governance structures: charter, contract, or performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverdale Country School</span> Private, day, college-prep school in The Bronx, New York, United States

Riverdale Country School is a co-educational, independent, college-preparatory day school in New York City serving pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is located on two campuses covering more than 27.5 acres (111,000 m2) in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York, United States. Started as a school for boys, Riverdale Country School became fully coeducational in 1972. It currently serves 1,140 students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milwaukee Public Schools</span> School district in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) is the largest school district in Wisconsin. As of the 2015–16 school year, MPS served 75,568 students in 154 schools and had 9,636 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff positions. The system is one of the largest in the United States by enrollment. A publicly elected school board, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors, provides direction and oversight, with a superintendent heading the organization's administration.

Great Hearts Academies is a non-profit charter school management organization that operates a network of elementary, middle, and high schools in the Phoenix, Arizona Metropolitan area; in San Antonio, Ft. Worth, and Irving, Texas; and East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with new academies planned for Florida in Fall 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urban Prep Academies</span>

Urban Prep Academies is a nonprofit organization that operated three free open-enrollment public all-male college-preparatory high schools in Chicago. Founded in 2002, and receiving its first charter approval from Chicago Public Schools in 2005, it operates the first all-male public charter high school in the United States. The network opened a second campus in 2009 and a third in August 2010. From 2010 to 2019, 100% of the seniors in the school's graduating classes were admitted to four-year colleges or universities. In 2023 its charter was revoked over misconduct allegations and Chicago Public Schools moved to take over its campuses. The decision is controversial and is being contested in court.

Rhode Island Mayoral Academies (RIMA) are publicly funded charter schools in the state of Rhode Island that have been freed from some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other charter schools in order to better attract nonprofit charter management organizations with a track record of success. The legislation creating mayoral academies was championed by a coalition of community and business leaders led by Cumberland, RI Mayor Daniel McKee and passed into law as part of the 2009 Rhode Island state budget, which was approved on June 17, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SEED Foundation</span> U.S. non-profit organization

The SEED Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, established in 1997 to provide boarding school college-preparatory educational opportunities to underserved students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brock Hall, Maryland</span> Census-designated place in Maryland

Brock Hall is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in eastern Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, located south of Largo and Bowie, and north of Upper Marlboro. As of the 2020 census, the CDP had a population of 13,181.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hope College Prep</span> Public high school in Chicago, Illinois, United States

John Hope College Preparatory High School (JHCP) (locally known simply as John Hope) was a public 4–year high school and former middle school located in the Englewood neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1971, Hope was operated and owned by the Chicago Public Schools district. The school was named for African-American educator and religious leader John Hope. Hope shared its campus with Kipp Bloom College Prep School, a neighborhood charter middle school that opened for the 2013–14 school year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DCP El Primero High School</span> School in San Jose, California, United States

DCP El Primero High School is a public charter high school in San Jose, California. Its mission is to prepare first-generation students, particularly low-income Latinos, for college success. Originally called Downtown College Prep, it opened in 2000 as the first charter school in Santa Clara County and has since become the flagship school of the Downtown College Prep (DCP) family of schools.

KIPP Texas Public Schools, is the branch of the KIPP charter school network in the U.S. state of Texas.

Democracy Prep Public Schools, also known as Democracy Prep, is a charter school management company which manages a network of 25 Charter Schools in New York City, New Jersey, Nevada and Texas. Over 7,000 students are enrolled in its schools.

References

  1. ↑ "Southern District of New York | Former White House Advisor Sentenced To One Year And One Day In Prison For Devising A Scheme To Steal From Charter Schools He Founded | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. 2022-07-28. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  2. ↑ "BOP: Federal Inmates By Name". www.bop.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  3. ↑ "EdReform University". Center for Education Reform. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  4. ↑ "Democracy Prep Public Schools". About. Democracy Prep Public Schools. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "Education Next: Q&A: Seth Andrew". Vol. 19, no. 3. Education Next. Summer 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  6. ↑ Mahnken, Kevin (April 10, 2019). "Photo Tour: The Students, Educators, Classrooms & Activism That Define Democracy Prep, a School Network Built Around Civics". The74. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  7. ↑ Mahnken, Kevin (April 10, 2019). "How Democracy Prep Is Drawing Upon Civics to Challenge Its Students to 'Change the World' — Before They Graduate". The74. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  8. ↑ Mahnken, Kevin (April 10, 2019). "Democracy Prep's Expansion Woes Raise Questions About Whether Civics Education Can Be Brought to Scale". The74. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  9. ↑ Pondiscio, Robert (May 1, 2018). "Contributing to a 'More Perfect Union': Mathematica Study of Civic Engagement of Students at Democracy Prep Is Encouraging but Only a Beginning". The74. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "ResearchED". ResearchEd.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  11. ↑ Peters, Olga (2020-06-10). "Campus buyer seeks to build upon a history of civic engagement". The Commons. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  12. ↑ "Seth Andrew | U-M LSA Nam Center for Korean Studies". ii.umich.edu. Archived from the original on 2018-06-16.
  13. ↑ French, Ellie (May 28, 2020). "Marlboro College announces campus sale to Democracy Builders". VT Digger. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  14. ↑ Visconti, Ambrogio. "Democracy Builders' Acquisition of Marlboro College". Global Legal Chronicle. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  15. ↑ Audette, Bob (May 28, 2020). "New model of higher education could take root in Marlboro". The Bennington Banner. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  16. ↑ St. Amour, Madeline (May 29, 2020). "Marlboro to Become New 2-Year Program". Inside Higher Education. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  17. ↑ Audette, Bob (2021-02-03). "Marlboro College campus has new owner". Brattleboro Reformer. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  18. ↑ "Deal is off for campus sale". The Commons. 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  19. ↑ Audette, Bob (2021-03-10). "Potash Hill deal not consummated, Democracy Builders says it retains ownership of former Marlboro College campus". Brattleboro Reformer. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  20. ↑ Audette, Bob (2021-01-05). "Degrees of Freedom runs successful pilot program". Brattleboro Reformer. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  21. ↑ Duffort, Lola (July 9, 2020). "Questions raised about Marlboro College buyer in 11th hour". VT Digger. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  22. ↑ Audette, Bob (July 14, 2020). "Anonymous allegations roil Marlboro College sale". Brattleboro Reformer. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  23. ↑ Seitz, Jacob (4 July 2020). "Marlboro Alumni condemn campus sale amid reports of racism at Democracy Builders". Berkeley Beacon. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  24. ↑ Audette, Bob (July 14, 2020). "Anonymous allegations roil Marlboro College sale". Brattleboro Reformer. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  25. ↑ Gander, MacLean (July 29, 2020). "College's assets disperse from Potash Hill". The Commons. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  26. ↑ "Feds accuse Seth Andrew, whose nonprofit purchased Marlboro College campus, of stealing over $200,000". Vermont Digger. 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  27. ↑ "Ex-Obama Adviser Stole From Charter School Network, U.S. Says". Bloomberg.com. 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  28. ↑ Mangan, Dan (2021-04-27). "Former Obama White House advisor Seth Andrew arrested, accused of stealing from charter school he founded". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  29. ↑ "Seth Andrew complaint (21 mag 4262).pdf | Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  30. ↑ "Former White House Advisor Sentenced To One Year And One Day In Prison For Devising A Scheme To Steal From Charter Schools He Founded". www.justice.gov. 2022-07-28. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  31. ↑ "Ex-White House adviser Seth Andrew charged with stealing $200,000 from NYC charter school network Democracy Prep to fund $2.37M Manhattan home purchase". New York Daily News .
  32. ↑ "Former Obama White House adviser pleads guilty to wire fraud for stealing over $200,000 from charter schools he founded". .msn.com. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  33. ↑ "Former White House Advisor Sentenced To One Year And One Day In Prison For Devising A Scheme To Steal From Charter Schools He Founded". .justice.gov. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  34. ↑ Uebelacker, Erik (September 26, 2024). "Second Circuit won't toss ex-White House adviser's conviction in charter school theft scheme". Courthouse News Service.
  35. ↑ Donnelly, Shannon (2004-08-29). "WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS: VOWS; Lana Zak and Seth Andrew". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  36. ↑ Mangan, Dan (29 July 2022). "Former Obama White House aide Seth Andrew sentenced to year in prison for charter school theft scheme". CNBC. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  37. ↑ "Lana Zak". ABC Radio. Archived from the original on 2019-02-23. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.