LM Feb 2022

Celebrating e B L A C K H I S T O R Y M O N T H

InclusiveAmericanHistoryCommission Dr. DonnaLeakUpdates IASAOnWhat toExpect

By Jason Nevel, IASA Director of Social Media and Publications

Months before she was asked to chair the Inclusive American History Commission, Dr. Donna Leak had been pondering a question asked during a Student Advisory Council. The student, who was white, was giving a presentation on equity and brought up the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in U.S. history. “She said ‘I don’t understand why it’s more important for me to know about the quadratic formula than for me to know about the Tulsa Race Massacre,’” said Dr. Leak, superintendent of Community Consolidated Schools District 168 in Sauk Village. “I had to really step back because it was such a powerful moment.” Dr. Leak was one of 22 people named to the Inclusive American History Commission, created by the 218-page

education equity bill that passed during the 2021 January session of the Illinois General Assembly with the backing of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. IASA spoke with her to learn more about the Inclusive American History Commission and to help school leaders better understand what changes could be coming to social studies programs next school year. According to Dr. Leak, serving on the commission was an opportunity to remedy questions like the one asked during Student Advisory Council months earlier. “I am excited to be a part of the commission that is opening the door for students to begin understanding and processing history from a variety of lenses and perspectives that we have not traditionally included,” Dr. Leak said.

6 LM February 2022