We are thrilled to invite you to the
2nd Annual Education Equity Summit

Hosted by the Wilmington Center for Education Equity and Policy, on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM at the Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy in Wilmington, Delaware.

This year’s theme: Brown, Black, and Blue: 70 Years Post-Brown, The Impact on Students & Educators in Wilmington, Delaware.

Why You Should Attend:
The summit will provide a unique platform to discuss how the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision has shaped the educational experiences of students in Wilmington today. This event is ideal for students, teachers, school leaders, parents, caregivers, community members, and all those committed to advancing educational equity in our city.

Keynote Speaker:
We are honored to welcome Cornell William Brooks, civil rights attorney and Harvard Kennedy School professor, as our keynote speaker. His deep expertise in public leadership and social justice will inspire meaningful conversations and actions.

What You Can Expect:

• Insightful discussions and breakout workshop sessions.
• Networking with educational leaders, policymakers, teachers, parents, students, and community advocates.
• Opportunities to collaborate and contribute to equitable solutions for our schools.

Help Support Our Book Drive:
As part of our commitment to educational equity, we are collecting donated books by African American and LatinX authors that are grade-level appropriate for grades 1-8. Your gift of books will make a meaningful impact on the lives of students in our community.

Please mail or drop-off (on 11/2/2024) donated books to:
Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy
600 E. 7th Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
(Gift of [Your Name])
Book drive organized by WCEEP

Event Details:
🗓️ Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024
🕒 Time: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
📍 Location: Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy, 600 E. 7th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

Who Should Attend?
This event is open to students, teachers, school leaders, parents, grandparents, family caregivers, neighbors, elected officials, legal community, faith leaders and all who believe in the importance of equitable education.

Don’t Miss Out!
Reserve your seat today to be part of this vital conversation about the future of education in Wilmington.

🔗 Register Now: buytickets.at/wceep

Together, we can build a Wilmington where every child receives an exceptional education. Let’s work together to make lasting change.

Brown, Black and Blue: 70 Years Post Brown, The Impact on Wilmington Students & Educators

Background Context

“In 1954, the Supreme Court’s Brown decision ended segregated schooling in the United States, but regrettably, as documented in congressional testimonies and transcripts, Brown also ended the careers of a generation of highly qualified and credentialed Black teachers and principals. In the deep south and northern border states over the decades following Brown, Black schools were illegally closed, and Black educators were displaced en masse”. -Leslie T. Fenwick, author of Jim Crow’s Pink Slip.

Today, opportunity gaps, higher than average teacher turnover, and pandemic learning loss have only illuminated historic inequities impacting Black and Brown Wilmington children and educators. Our city and the nation are challenged by the growing shortage of courageous educators teaching and leading in our most under-resourced schools with the highest critical needs With Wilmington schools experiencing an annual turnover of approximately 30%, we have a powerful opportunity to re-imagine education for our city.

Even as the population of college students has increased by 150% since 1970, the number of bachelor’s degrees in education has plummeted by almost 50%. Five decades ago, 1 in every 5 bachelor’s degrees earned was in the field of education, and in 2022 only 4.4% of degrees earned in the US were in education. Overall, undergraduate degree earners fell by nearly 3% in the 2022-23 academic year, the steepest decline ever recorded.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Delaware State Educator Association, 75% of Delaware teachers say they are likely to leave. More than 1/3 of teachers in high-need schools leave annually.

Workshop Choices (Select 1 Top Choice and (1) Alternative)

1. Diverse Teacher Recruitment and Retention, Where is DE Headed?

Speakers

• Ann Hlabangana-Clay, Educator Equity Recruitment, DE Department of Education
• Carly Highsmith, Director of Educator Pathways, Wilmington Learning Collaborative
• Marcus Thomas, Christopher Alexander Holdings, LLC
• Gloria Ho, National Education Association State Director, DSEA
• Tamara N. Smith, Former Executive Director, Teach For America, Discussion Facilitator

Educators and business partners are responding to the growing teacher shortage in creative ways. State resources, district initiatives, and new ventures, all in different phases of development to grow a diverse pipeline and retain diverse educators will be highlighted.

• What resources are available for credentialing, Praxis test prep, and peer study groups?

• How can “Grow our Own” resources for professional development be accessed?

• What are the unique opportunities to create pathways for early career professionals, high school students, and others passionate about becoming educators?

New on the horizon for Wilmington are “teacher-centered housing communities”. Multiple cities have built teacher villages on the premise that quality of life and quality of housing are attractive for early career teachers. Marcus Thomas of Christopher Alexander Holdings, LLC, and WCEEP are partnering to imagine the development of a Teacher’s Village. A conceptual sneak peek will be shared.

2. The Light Students Carry: Belonging, Inclusiveness, Relevance & Cultural Competence Do Matter

Speakers

• Laretha C.P Odumosu, Ph.D., Executive Director Charter School of New Castle
• Magan Davis, P.S. DuPont Middle School, Educator
• Anthony Reid, Howard High School of Technology, Educator
• Evelyn Edney, Ed.D, Head of Schools, Early College Schools at Delaware State University
• Chelsia Douglas, Discussion Facilitator

As we continue to dig into data-driven instructional practices and other metrics to raise student achievement, are we missing vital qualitative data points?

This workshop explores what set of conditions must be present in learning environments before impactful academic instruction is delivered. How do we identify tangible and intangible student assets, irrespective of zip code, family income, racial or learning need classifications? What evidence informs us if students feel seen by adults in school and at home? Is there a link between mattering, marginalization, othering, academic achievement, and life success?

3. One Love: Transforming School Culture

Roundtable Discussion

• Kim Graham, CEO Metaphor Ink LLC & DSU Trauma Institute Director (Facilitator)
• Helen Anderson, Director Dual Generation Center & Chair, Wilmington Learning Collaborative Advisory Council
• Meedra Surratte, Executive Director, Parent Information Center of Delaware (PIC)
• Taron Williams, Restorative Practices Coordinator, Kuumba Academy Charter School

Social justice advocates are studying the criminalization of Black girls and boys in schools by examining disproportionality in school discipline data, practices, and over-policing. Black and Brown students from pre-k throughout elementary and secondary schools and school personnel are both affected in a range of ways by racial and gender segregation. How might we lay down our artillery to get to the root?

During the 2020-21 school year, more than a third of students (about 18.5 million) attended schools where 75% or more students were of a single race or ethnicity. 14% of students attended schools where almost all of the student body was of a single race/ethnicity" (Report from US Gov't Accountability Office)

This workshop explores if there are intersections between disproportionality, implicit bias, discipline policy, shifting adult/student relationships at school and home, and limited culturally competent professional development. Is disproportionality symptomatic of something deeper? What philosophies, practices, and interventions are showing promise? How might we begin to "own our baggage"? How might we inform solutions-oriented policy recommendations for consideration by the newly convened DE Legislative Task Force on School Culture in ways that propel us in a positive direction?

We look forward to seeing you at the summit!