The market map was created in collaboration with the Laura and John Arnold Foundation of Houston, Texas and aims to capture a snapshot of the educational technology landscape by organizing ventures into core areas to give users an overview of the current market. The market map was said to have been created with the help of leading experts in the education technology field, including Michael Horn of Innosight Institute and Anthony Kim of Education Elements.

“The transformation that the rest of society has experienced as a result of technology has left schools largely untouched,” said NewSchools CEO Ted Mitchell.

“Investors understand that technology will play an increasingly important role in improving student achievement, and they want to make smart investments in tools that will help the most children succeed.”

Among the features of the education technology market map are:

An interactive graphical representation of the market that captures education technology ventures currently in the space

Color indicators organizing ventures into core areas such as assessment tools, data systems, online instruction, games, professional development, and performance systems

Profiles of each venture providing additional context and organization information

“Technology is the next frontier for education reform, and the possibility of customizing education for the way each child learns best is just one example of the transformational power of technology in schools,” said Meredith Simonton of the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.

“Yet the rush of interest and activity in blended learning has led to a confusing landscape and a duplication of efforts and mirroring of organizations, so this mapping effort is an important step toward organizing and accelerating education innovation.”

NewSchools Venture Fund is a not-for-profit organization with a working aim to close the achievement gap by funding and supporting entrepreneurs who are creating innovative solutions to the problems in public education. Since its founding in 1998, NewSchools has invested $180 million in more than 40 nonprofit and for-profit educational organizations working to promote student achievement.

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Kim announced her departure in a statement posted on the Deal Web site today:

“I write to share with you that I have made the very difficult choice to leave Alice Deal. I am joining the national education organization New Schools Venture Fund, where I will have the opportunity to work with schools throughout DC.  My commitment to the students and families of Washington, DC, remains ever strong.  I will remain at Deal as advisor and coach until December to ensure a smooth transition for our students and staff.”

Kim, who has headed Deal for seven years, said her reasons are both personal and professional, including an interest in taking what she’s learned at Deal to other schools. James Albright, assistant principal and IB coordinator, will be interim principal, Kim said.

Her work for the DC Schools Fund will involve ”taking a lot of lessons learned at Deal,” Kim said. The Ward 3 school became a coveted destination for families across the District on her watch. Among its drawing cards is the International Baccalaureate program, the city’s first middle school to offer one, Turque writes in a different article at the Washington Post.

Kim, like former Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, is the daughter of Korean immigrants. She clearly came to Deal with something to prove when she was named principal in 2005, writes Turque.

“There are a lot of women principals at the elementary level, but not at the middle school and certainly not many Asian women principals,” she told the Colby College alumni magazine in 2007. “I don’t have a network like that. I’ve always been the only Asian kid doing something.”

Not everyone is sorry to see her leave. A Washington Teachers’ Union document obtained by the Examiner in 2007 said Kim frequently “admonished” and “disrespected” teachers and school staff “in front of other staff, faculty and students in most unprofessional tones of voice.”

During the same period, a small group of parents said Kim unfairly singled out African American and Hispanic students for discipline, writes Turque. But the parent leadership at the time defended Kim vigorously and now regrets her departure.

“A huge loss. I was very sorry to hear of it,” Diana Rojas, PTA co-president, said in an e-mail last week. “Hopefully, she’ll take her big and good ideas to ameliorate other schools in the city.”

New Schools Venture Fund’s site lists several D.C. public charter schools as among its investments, including Achievement Prep, Appletree, D.C. Prep, E.L. Haynes, Friendship and KIPP. It has also established funds targeted to foster charter school growth and improvement in specific cities, including D.C., Boston and Newark.

To Turque, Melissa Kim’s resignation sounds more like the beginning of a sabbatical than the end of a career at DCPS.

“I don’t think I’m done with D.C. Public Schools,” said Kim, who will leave Deal Middle School in December after her seventh year as principal. “I think this is a couple of years and then back to the District.”

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