Over the past 25 years, I have had the privilege of establishing and sustaining an independent, nonprofit school in Maryland named Gerstell Academy that serves students from pre-K through 12th grade. I have personally had in-depth conversations with and observed over a thousand parents and hundreds of students. This institution, with a strong focus on leadership, has provided me with profound insights into the educational landscape. With 11 years of post-college education and surgical training, I bring a broad perspective on what it takes to cultivate a thriving educational environment.

A clear vision and mission are fundamental. These should be reviewed annually to ensure they remain relevant and inspiring. Creating a values-driven culture, constantly reinforced by faculty and staff in the classroom, on campus and at home is essential. Principles such as treating others as you wish to be treated; respecting parents, teachers and those in authority; being honest and ethical; taking responsibility for one’s actions; striving for personal potential; maintaining a positive attitude and practicing civility should be at the core of our educational philosophy.

Using historical figures as role models can offer students valuable lessons in leadership. By studying the successes and failures of individuals such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Einstein and Dr. Ben Carson, students can gain a nuanced understanding of leadership.

To develop well-rounded, informed leaders, we must establish comprehensive goals, objectives and curricula for lower, middle, and upper school levels. Key subjects should include civics, covering U.S. history, the founders, political structures, citizen participation, governance and community service. Leadership education should encompass the art of positively influencing others, ethics, debate, comparative religions and classic literature. In mathematics and finance, students should progress from basic arithmetic to calculus and statistics. Science education should include physics, biology and chemistry, while the arts should be represented through music, band and choral programs. Physical training, including sports, physical education and yoga, with a goal of fitness for life, is essential, as is language instruction, with Spanish taught throughout our curriculum as a second language.

The ability to read with good retention and think critically and analytically is the most important skill set for students. This includes analyzing facts, generating and organizing ideas, making comparisons, drawing inferences, solving problems, evaluating discussions without bias and being open-minded. Regular reading is crucial; reading just 10 extra pages a day can result in a student reading approximately 140 books by the time they graduate from high school.

However, the reality is stark. Literacy rates in American schools are alarming. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 31% of eighth graders are proficient in reading. The situation is even more concerning in Baltimore City Public Schools, where only 15% of eighth graders are proficient in reading, placing Baltimore near the bottom compared with other urban school districts in the U.S.

Students often forget most of what they learn in class within a few weeks. However, they tend to remember experiences that are repeated, create an emotional response, involve group projects or include public speaking. Therefore, education must engage students deeply and repeatedly.

When parents contemplate their children’s education, they often express a desire for them to be happy, healthy and successful. While this typically implies financial success and a life without complications, the reality is that life involves challenges. Education is key to navigating these challenges. Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I would add that education is also the most powerful tool to sustain and improve our world.

In the global education landscape, American students rank in the middle for verbal skills and near the bottom for mathematics. Countries such as China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia and the Netherlands lead in educational achievement. Our students must develop critical and analytical thinking skills to compete globally. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.”

Family structure also plays a crucial role in education. The nuclear family, defined as a family group consisting of two parents and their children, provides a stable environment that supports a child’s education. Statistics consistently show that children from homes with both parents present tend to achieve higher educational outcomes. Two parents have more time to share responsibilities, such as helping with homework, that promote their children’s educational success. The importance of the nuclear family extends beyond academic performance. Research by the Institute for Family Studies found that children living with both biological parents are significantly less likely to experience poverty or incarceration. This stable family structure contributes to higher literacy rates, better graduation rates and overall improved life outcomes. In Baltimore City and Baltimore County, where roughly 65% and 29% of children, respectively, live in single-parent households, the impact on educational achievement is evident.

As we look to the future, it is crucial to consider the role of technology in education. Sal Khan, in his book “Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education,” highlights the potential of artificial intelligence in education. Khan Academy, in collaboration with OpenAl, an artificial intelligence research company, is developing Al tutors using tools like ChatGPT 4 to help in classrooms. Generative Al can understand and generate human-like text based on the data it has been trained on. This approach provides universal access to quality education, focusing on critical and analytical thinking. As Khan points out, with over half of Americans ages 16 to 74 reading below a sixth-grade level, these advancements are crucial. Students can access a comprehensive online education for free via Khan Academy, making quality education accessible to everyone. In the future, we can expect some American colleges and universities to accept students with a Khan Academy education.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has noted that the internet can provide a comprehensive college education for free. As technology evolves, we must integrate these tools into our educational systems to better prepare our students for the future.

To remain competitive, we need strong consistent leadership focused on improving our educational models. We must recognize the urgency of our situation and commit to transforming our educational system. As Malcolm X said, “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs only to the people who prepare for it today.” By focusing on values, leadership, critical thinking and strong family support, we can prepare our children not just to compete but to lead and thrive in the world of tomorrow.

Frederick G. Smith is the founder of Gerstell Academy in Finksburg and vice president of Sinclair Inc. He is the brother of David Smith, Sinclair’s executive chairman and co-owner of The Baltimore Sun.