Grantmakers for Education puts on an annual conference, focusing on the trends of education and the priorities of funders in that space. I was fortunate enough to attend my first of these conferences this past month in Minneapolis, with the theme Education for a Thriving Democracy: Truth, Discourse, and Transformation. At a time when public education faces increasing challenges and criticism, I feel energized and reinvigorated in my commitment to supporting and strengthening our public schools. As a proud product of public education and a first generation college graduate (of a public university), I am excited by the possibilities that lay before us. I see the results of nonprofit work and advocacy on behalf of students and educators first hand in the schools that my three children attend and within the schools that I visit with my work.
At the end of the conference I was left with some things to ponder:
- While the work is hard and can be overwhelming, we need not listen to all of the negatives that follow around this space. There is a large section of the country that sees the positives in the work and supports the teachers and students. Be a part of that movement and frame the work in that light! {Assessment & Equity: How Our Communications Can Promote Public Support presented by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and FrameWorks Institute}
- The most important thing we can do for our students is to support our educators. They need resources, professional development, and mentorship to keep them in the classroom and successful. {Cultivating Talent: Supporting the Next Generation of Teachers presented by the Southern Regional Education Board}
- Collaborate intentionally. Pay attention to the language we use and the way that we present to and interact with each other. It’s important to both dream for the future and do the things necessary for success now. {The Education Imaginary, a Provocation presented by Dr. Ruha Benjamin}
All in all, I am excited for the new ideas and frameworks to bring to the DPS Foundation and share with our community of educators, funders, and changemakers.
