Choose Your Spaces Wisely

Dr. Christina Kishimoto, CEO, Voice4Equity

Dr. Christina Kishimoto, CEO, Voice4Equity

It’s February and we knew it was going to be an interesting year. Disruptive political actions just two short weeks into the new administration were not unexpected – the game plan had already been published! And yet, I’m finding myself frowning just a little more often, with that cocked head look my puppy gives me when she’s trying to figure out what I am saying to her. From scapegoats being made of federal employees, to brown citizens “mistakenly” being detained by ICE, to the appointment of non-experts into key national positions, to the jaw-dropping accusation that an airline tragedy at Reagan International was potentially due to DEI hires, it’s a national head turning moment. 

Perhaps then this is a good time for me to urge you to choose your spaces wisely. Where are you spending your time, who are you interacting with, and how are you taking care of yourself?

Dr. Lisa Herring, one of our Tech, Power and Equity conference keynoters, said it so well as she urged us, “Don’t get distracted by the noise. We have work to do.” Now let’s not misinterpret her clarion call. Dr. Herring did not tell us to ignore the situation. Rather, she urged us to stay focused and intentional on the equity agenda at hand.

The reality is that there is great work happening across the country in our public schools. I had the pleasure of sitting in on sessions at the TPE conference by leaders from across the country who are leveraging AI-enabled technologies to improve instructional opportunities, operational practices, and policy constructs. A shout out to system and school leaders from Indianapolis Public Schools (IN), Roanoke City Public Schools (VA), Kent Public Schools (WA), Tukwila Public Schools (WA), Clark County School District (NV), Prince George’s County Public Schools (VA), Aldine ISD (TX), Englewood Public Schools (NJ), Forest Park School District (IL), Dysart Unified School District (AZ), and Denver Public Schools (CO)! These districts showcased how teachers and leaders are embedding greater opportunities for creativity, design, and exploration using AI in their learning systems, with improved engagement and empowerment of students. By the way, we received great coverage of this convening by USC Magazine. Be sure to check it out.

I encourage you to focus on the innovations and opportunities of our time and connect with other leaders of this mindset. We must adjust our instructional approaches so that they are contextualized to our nation’s students today and the innovation workforces they are entering. We must also continue to teach our students about our great democracy and why their voices and community engagement matter. In this issue, I am excited to introduce you to an intentional and reflective Superintendent out of Englewood, New Jersey. Dr. Marnie Hazelton, a three-time Superintendent, is a leader to learn from. She is a student of community history and community context as she shapes her school district to serve her diverse student body of curious, empowered and joyful children and youth. I know you will enjoy our conversation.

I also want to invite you to join us this summer for our next powerful convening of When Women Lead that will be held in historic and beautiful Charleston, South Carolina. The Mill House, built in 1853 in the heart of Charleston, will serve as a critical backdrop to our conversations on policy leadership and voice. We know that today’s education policy issues (and conflicts) have a long tail in this country’s historical perspective on race, gender, country of origin, religion, wealth, and power. This will be an impactful conference because it is a space for deeper dialogue! 

If you are looking to further develop your policy knowledge and voice, and want to build deeper networks with women across the country, I encourage you to register for the online Policy Leadership Academy that begins on March 31st – we have a special guest co-facilitator Dr. Ben Elliott, who will join me! Five engaging sessions will provide you with strategies and tools to help you interrogate how you make decisions, how your equity mindset shows up in your work, and how to design a pathway for student-centered policy work. 

Take advantage of these opportunities. Together we will keep the focus on what matters most to our students.  Thank you for all that you do!

Stay Well, Be Bold!

Christina