Dear Fellow Educators,

In the aftermath of a highly contested election and a climate of divisive rhetoric in our country, I want to take an opportunity to re-center on our country’s youth and the democratic call to provide an excellent and equitable public education for all students.

At Great Schools Partnership, we define educational equity as ensuring just outcomes for each student, raising marginalized voices, and challenging the imbalance of power and privilege. There is no space in this definition for policies, practices or language that are driven by hatred, racism, homophobia, transphobia or xenophobia. We remain committed to anti-racist, inclusive, and equitable practices, policies, and cultures that foster belonging for everyone – students, staff, and community. Please know that, more than ever, our team stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our school partners and educators across the country as they work tirelessly in service of educational equity.

Last year, at our School Redesign in Action Conference, scholar Dr. Jamila Dugan, author of Street Data, shared her wisdom with our GSP community of educators and students by reminding us that: “Equity isn’t a destination but an unwavering commitment to a journey. It can be easy to focus on where we hope to land and lose sight of the deliberate daily actions that constitute the process.” To carry Dr. Dugan’s message forward, we will continue to stay fiercely engaged in this journey towards educational equity for all students and engage in the daily work to achieve it. Every student deserves an excellent public education that supports their growth as curious learners, compassionate humans and engaged community members.

Sincerely,

Paulina Murton,

Executive Director

Great Schools Partnership