my name is caroline gifford, and i and the principle of the potential -- principal of the potential kipp high school in san francisco. i would like to thank the many students, parents, and teachers who are here to show their support, and the impact kipp has had a on their lives. i began teaching in washington, d.c., and ninth grade, at a school that taught disadvantaged students. i recently taught in east san jose. this past year, i served on the administrative team, where the focus has been working specifically with our struggling ninth graders to improve academic performance and grade level culture. i believe, as many of you have stated before, that many of our students deserve the opportunity to get to and through college. my vision is to work with you to create a rigorous college preparatory in parliament, where students are engaged in rigorous, meaningful, relevant content. since january, i have had the opportunity to spend time with the amazing middle school students at the tip schools in san francisco, who are likely to be members of the founding class of a new high school. i look