Transforming Urban Education: Leadership, Equity, and Advocacy at the 2024 ICUE
At the 2024 International Conference on Urban Education (ICUE) in Cancun, Mexico, I had the privilege of joining an inspiring community of educators and leaders dedicated to shaping the future of urban education. I was part of a paper session featuring three standout presentations. Collectively, our sessions focused on educational policy, leadership, social justice, and advocacy, fostering a vibrant dialogue on transforming education for all students.
Our presentation, "Enhancing Urban Educational Leadership: The Impact of National Board Certification," featuring Dr. Rainya Miller, NBCT, Talitha Simeona-Stewart, NBCT, Andrea Burrell, and myself, showcased the role of NBCTs in fostering leadership and excellence in urban schools. (For more details about my session, check out my blog post, Exploring the Impact of National Board Certification on Urban Educational Leadership.). Dr. Margarita Bianco and Dr. Madhavi Tandon's presentation, "Developing a Diverse and Community-Responsive Teacher Workforce through GYO Programs," emphasized innovative strategies for creating a teaching workforce that reflects and serves diverse communities. Rounding off our group was "BOLD Is A Choice: The Power of Affinity," led by Damon Qualls, Edward Anderson Ed.D., and Farrell Thomas, delved into the strength of leadership networks and affinity spaces in driving educational equity. They discussed specific strategies such as mentorship programs, resource sharing, and collaborative projects that successfully promote equity in urban education.
Dr. Margarita Bianco and Dr. Madhavi Tandon's presentation, "Developing a Diverse and Community Responsive Teacher Workforce through GYO Programs." showcased innovative strategies for building a teacher workforce that reflects and meets the needs of diverse communities. Dr. Bianco, an associate professor in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Colorado Denver and the founder of Pathways2Teaching, shared her expertise on recruiting and retaining teachers of color through Grow Your Own (GYO) programs, particularly those aimed at high school students of color in urban and rural areas. With the guiding message, “Fight in and for your community. You can’t be who you don’t see,” their presentation emphasized the critical importance of representation and community-driven efforts in education.
"Developing a Diverse and Community Responsive Teacher Workforce through GYO Programs" highlighted strategies to encourage historically marginalized individuals to pursue teaching careers, framing this initiative as an act of social justice and radical love. Dr. Margarita Bianco became a teacher to fulfill the role she wished she had as a student. She created a curriculum to inspire people of color to enter the teaching profession and address the critical shortage of educators. Her program is offered in high school Advanced Placement (AP) courses, where students can earn nine credits per year. All courses are taught through a justice lens; students can obtain a para-professional certification. For more detailed information about Dr. Bianco, please visit her page.
We also shared the space with the presenters of "BOLD Is A Choice: The Power of Affinity," led by Damon Qualls, Edward Anderson Ed.D., and Farrell Thomas, which explored the impact of leadership networks and affinity spaces in advancing educational equity. Black male educators represent only 2% of the teaching workforce, despite the growing diversity in American public schools. BOLD Leadership’s presentation showcased the potential of the BOLD framework, which emphasizes fellowship programs, expert consultancy, and community-wide dialogues to foster inclusion and growth. The #BoldIsAChoice movement, born from a small celebration of a colleague’s promotion, has evolved into a powerful initiative addressing systemic inequities in a conservative South Carolina school district. Through their work, these educators have created a support system that drives change and challenges outdated beliefs about teachers of color.
Through their Bold Leadership Network, they focus on driving systemic change by providing resources, shaping policies, and challenging power dynamics to shift perspectives. A cornerstone of their work is the creation of monthly affinity groups—spaces for fellowship, connection, and empowerment. Affinity groups can meet in person or online, providing space for shared goals, connection, and collaboration and fostering a sense of belonging. The BOLD Leadership Network initially utilized affinity spaces to support and empower Black male educators but they have since expanded to include a variety people and explore topics beyond school leadership. They now explore topics such as mental health and advocating for better schools for everyone. Learn more about their impactful efforts at BoldLeadershipNetwork.org.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to present alongside such passionate and talented educators at the 2024 International Conference on Urban Education. Each presentation offered invaluable insights into addressing challenges and fostering opportunities within urban education, leaving me inspired and informed. I learned so much from the innovative strategies shared by my fellow presenters, from building diverse and community-responsive teacher pipelines to leveraging the power of affinity spaces to advance educational equity. Sharing this space with such dedicated professionals was a true privilege, and I look forward to applying these lessons to my work in education.
