As we celebrate the national holiday, life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I’m reminded that it was the 18 year old Morehouse College senior who when describing the purpose of education said, we must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education. As a young man, Dr. King challenged both black and white in their pursuits of power and success by means of education.
Recently, I had an opportunity to participate in the 2023 Metropolitan Community College (MCC) Chancellor’s Scholarship Luncheon in Kansas City, MO, a 108 year old institution with a story of progress. The luncheon honored five MCC students, featured Donna Brazile (political strategist, author, professor, and news host) as the keynote speaker, and also recognized the 2023 Alvin Brooks Kansas Citian Inspiration Award Recipient. Brazile’s remarks in part, touched on education as her passport to success and paying it forward. Nationally, community colleges play a critical role in workforce development through academic programming and skills training to prepare students for jobs or transfer to four-year colleges.
I ended this week in Columbus, OH supporting the work of Columbus City Schools and their District Partnership Team (DPT) in furtherance of the Wallace Foundation Equity-Centered Pipeline Initiative Grant. The 5-year grant strives to advance the district’s own vision of equity, strategize on what equity-centered leaders need to know and be able to do. The DPT is comprised of interim superintendent, Dr. Angela Chapman and members of her leadership team, university partners from The Ohio State University and Ashland University, and representatives from the Ohio Department of Education, along with Wallace researchers. Ultimately, the findings of this work will lead to a series of independent research studies to generate useful insights for the field and a direct benefit to the district.
Additionally, while in Columbus we had an opportunity to spend some time visiting two schools: Northland High School, led by Dr. Jason Johnston and Ecole Kenwood French Immersion Elementary School, led by principal Emma Corbin. Both school leaders were veteran principals, relentlessly focused on improving teaching and learning, held high expectations for students and staff, leveraged professional learning for teachers, cultivated a wide range of school partnerships to provide rich learning opportunities for students, created a positive school culture, and were diligent in terms of self-evaluation and data analysis with clear strategies for continuous improvement.
Now more than ever, let us renew our commitment to the power of education so that as advocates, educators, or school system leaders we can ensure our schools and districts are ready, responsive, and resolute in meeting the unique needs of all learners.