Creating a culture of social justice doesn’t require school leaders to “pave the way”. Sometimes, it requires us to get out of the way — and let the students lead! In my first @ELmagazine article, co-written w/Gina Davenport, we detail the “how” of this work. Check it out!

Our Growing Gophers preschool students, and our Child Growth & Development program students, had the best time visiting the aquarium today. Thank you @nationalaquarium for facilitating this opportunity for our students to learn and grow! #ElevateandCelebrate #BelongGrowSucceed

Hey y’all remember my bestie Torrence? This is his niece’s thread and her sweet boy Zac. I know this “story time” is going to bring you to tears like it did me 🥹🥰

*A few minutes later when he thinks I’m not looking or listening, he grabs his little brother* Zac: Hey Zion, you see that lady on the screen? Zi: yea Zac: she’s Brown like us…and she’s gonna be the President!!! 9/9

Me: Do you see that woman on the screen? Zac: Yea Me: What color is her skin? Zac: Brown Me: like you? Zac: like me. Me: Well, that woman will be running to be the President of the United States! Zac: The President??!!!! *proceeds to “pass out”* 🫠😂 8/9

If you’re still reading (😅) I invite you to imagine the prodigious gratitude I felt when just about 2 hours later, he walked into the family room to see Vice President @KamalaHarris walking out to Beyoncé’s “Freedom” before addressing the masses. 7/9

I told him that his skin is a privilege and an asset. Not one that makes him better than others (no skin can do that) — but one that makes him uniquely him…and one that should make him PROUD. 6/9

We then had a conversation about melanin and also the history of endurance, strength, creativity, and joy that is interwined through generations of ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery) and embedded into his very DNA. 5/9

“Brown is the color of the earth, from which we were made. Brown is the combination of all of the colors from the color wheel. Brown is strength. It is healing. It is beautiful — just like Black is beautiful…just like all skin is beautiful! You are beautiful!” 4/9

After I reassured him, that he is, in fact, Black (explaining this would require an entirely different layer of “story time” 🤣), I told him… 3/9

I was blindsided on the drive home from camp when he said he wished he had “Blacker” skin or white skin instead of his “mix skin”. “Black is beautiful, Mommy, and white skin is nice…but Brown is the color of mud…and poop!” 2/9

7.23.24 Story time… Today I had to coach my son into loving his skin… 1/9

This awesome opportunity for youth is happening right in the heart of Anne Arundel County this weekend -- check it out!!

My educator Framily is raving about #TheAntiracistSchoolLeader by Dr. @daman_harris -- and with good reason! All school leaders should dive into this powerful prose at least once. A great add for your Spring Break reading list & a solid tool for PLCs! https://t.co/TdvhXopXcb

The best way to open people's minds isn't to argue with them. It's to listen to them. When people feel understood, they become less defensive and more reflective—and develop less extreme, more nuanced views. Productive disagreements begin with curiosity, not persuasion.

Another successful Crofton-Arundel collaboration in the books — literally! Thanks for uplifting students and sharing your work, Dr. Coleman & Principal Davenport! #CardinalCulture #WildcatPride #AACPSfamily #BelongGrowSucceed

Priceless insight from a top-tier district leader, thought leader, mentor, and author!

One of our absolute favorites! Check it out here:

We dedicate this #NationalAuthorsDay to the work that our students have done promote and sustain #SocialJustice throughout our community. Want to know how to build your students’ capacity for this work? Check out our @ASCD article in @ELmagazine! #ASCDauthors

Standing room only in our 2023 @AACountySchools HELP Conference presentation! School leaders were so eager to engage with strategies that moved data while helping students to #BelongGrowSucceed at @CroftonHigh that some even camped out by the door. #Dedication #AACPSFamily

@DrHpo @CounselorCrank @OEASAaacps @KathyBenton72 @bkwhitley @krisyvonne @DeniseShafer23 @stephanielseidl @_Raven_Harris @saragrthomas @Eduk8n #SomebodyTagJayson