LM Feb 2023

AConversation WithDr. Sonya Whitaker On Equity, Politics, Black HistoryMonth andMore Celebrating e B L A C K H I S T O R Y M O N T H February 2023

In honor of February being Black History Month, IASA invited Dr. Whitaker on the IASA Podcast to discuss a variety of issues around equity and diversity in public education.

Click here to listen to the podcast. The following is a condensed and edited version of that conversation.

Q

Can you start out by saying a little bit about yourself and your school district? I have the distinct honor of serving in public education for almost 30 years. I served as superintendent of schools in two different districts and now have the honor of serving as Deputy Superintendent of Schools in Dolton West School District. In addition to that, I serve as the National Education Policy Director for PUSH for Excellence. In Dolton, we have just over 3,000 students. Well over 90 percent of our students are African American and qualify for free and reduced lunch. We are a pre-K through eighth grade school district. You mentioned your involvement with the national organization, PUSH Excel. Can you provide an overview and history of that organization and the work you do? PUSH Excel is also known as Push for Excellence. It was founded by the Rev. Jesse Jackson for the purpose

Can you discuss the recent event PUSH Excel held on Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday? For the last 32 years, we have hosted a breakfast to raise monies through the form of scholarships, for what we refer to as the Jesse Jackson Fellows. These young adults are students who are interested in attending college who may not otherwise have the financial resources to do so. We host this event to raise money that we need to continue to fund their academic experience. We also use the opportunity to highlight key programs within our organizations, such as the after school and the summer-STEM program. Why is it important to increase the pipeline of African-American educators in schools? of uniting parents and teachers and community members, as well as politicians, around the need to encourage students to stay in school and to push for excellence.

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12 LM February 2023