Underwoood is the founder and President of Cornerstone Christian College Preparatory School and Cornerstone Christian Bible College International. His work in urban education spans over 40 years and includes becoming the first African American Indiana Teacher of the Year [2] and testifying before the
United States House of Representatives Committee on Small Business on effective urban education methods.[3][4]
Underwood's published works include Assassination of Human Potential,[5]Burden of Hope: Transition, Retention, and Collegiate Black Men,[6] and Bumblebees Can Fly: Developing the Inherent Power in Young Men of Color Needed to Achieve in Education and Succeed in Life.[7]
Early life
Oscar J. Underwood Jr. was born in
Marion, Alabama, and relocated with his family to
Fort Wayne, Indiana at age three. He obtained a B.S. in Elementary Education from Indiana University in 1972,[8] an M.S. in Educational Administration and Curriculum Development from
Indiana University in 1978, and an Ed.S. and Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, Administration and Foundations from
Indiana State University in 2007 and 2012, respectively.
Education
In 1977, Underwood became the first Indiana African American Teacher of the Year.[9] In 1982, he accepted a principalship at Ralph J. Bunche Elementary School in Fort Wayne, a then- failing, low-income, 98-percent African-American, inner-city school.[10][11] Within two years, student achievement test scores in every grade level rose to the highest they had been in the school's then-history.[12][13]
In 1991, Underwood left Ralph J. Bunche and founded Cornerstone Christian College Preparatory School in Fort Wayne.[14] In 1998, Underwood testified before the United States Congressional Committee on Small Businesses regarding his strategies in urban education.[15][16] In 1991 he opened c-prep and the firsy year
Ministry
In 1985, Underwood founded and became Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Christian Worship Center (now, Destiny Dome Embassy at Cathedral of Praise Ministries International) in Fort Wayne. In 1993, the ministry purchased a 46,000 square foot building. In 2000, the ministry opened Cornerstone Christian Bible College International in Fort Wayne.
Published works
Bumblebees Can Fly: Developing the Inherent Power in Young Men of Color Needed to Achieve in Education and Succeed in Life ǀ
ISBN978-1498444422
Burden of Hope: Transition, Retention, and Collegiate Black Men ǀ
ISBN978-3639705539
^Briggs, John (April 8, 1998). "Underwood takes tale of Cornerstone to hall of Congress". Frost Illustrated Newspaper.
^Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Empowerment of the Committee on Small Business House of Representatives (March 26, 1998). "Urban Education: Approaches that Work" (Serial No. 105–44). {{
cite journal}}: |author= has generic name (
help); Cite journal requires |journal= (
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^Underwood, Oscar (September 21, 2009). Assassination of Human Potential. Xulon Press.
ISBN978-1607910275.
^Dowdell-Underwood, Oscar (December 19, 2013). Burden of Hope: Transition, Retention, and Collegiate Black Men. Scholars' Press.
ISBN978-3639705539.
^Dowdell-Underwood, Oscar (2015-09-25). Bumblebees Can Fly: Developing the Inherent Power in Young Men of Color Needed to Achieve in Education and Succeed in Life. Xulon Press.
ISBN978-1498444422.
^Horwitz, Tony (March 1984). "Bunche Principal: Quality is color blind". The News-Sentinel.
^Monteith, Gene (1984). "Principal demands the best". The News-Sentinel.
^Horwitz, Tony (March 1984). "Bunche Principal: Quality is color blind". The News-Sentinel.
^Monteith, Gene (1984). "Principal demands the best". The News-Sentinel.
^Davis, Karen (August 1991). "New school can effect change, educator says". The News-Sentinel.
^Briggs, John (April 8, 1998). "Underwood takes tale of Cornerstone to hall of Congress". Frost Illustrated Newspaper.
^Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Empowerment of the Committee on Small Business House of Representatives (March 26, 1998). "Urban Education: Approaches that Work" (Serial No. 105–44). {{
cite journal}}: |author= has generic name (
help); Cite journal requires |journal= (
help)
^Briggs, John (April 8, 1998). "Underwood takes tale of Cornerstone to hall of Congress". Frost Illustrated Newspaper.
^Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Empowerment of the Committee on Small Business House of Representatives (March 26, 1998). "Urban Education: Approaches that Work" (Serial No. 105–44). {{
cite journal}}: |author= has generic name (
help); Cite journal requires |journal= (
help)
^"Underwood to Merit Commission". Frost Illustrated. May 21, 1980.
^Zlatos, Bill (April 30, 1984). "Principal is top achiever". The News-Sentinel.