This was not something I wanted to be part of for just a ten-week fellowship, but something I hoped to remain connected to throughout my entire career as an education leader. That hope became reality. SELI provided more than a professional placement. It offered the tools, relationships, and exposure I needed to grow as an emerging leader. It gave me the space to explore how I could make an impact beyond the classroom and helped me better understand the ecosystem of education justice work happening across the South. Before SELI, advocating from inside the classroom often felt isolating. I knew the issues students were facing—such as unskilled or inexperienced teachers, outdated
curriculum and ineffective instructional philosophies, lack of accountability in charter schools, and the compounding effects of persistent opportunity gaps—but I did not always feel supported in naming them. I was passionate about equity, but it often felt like I was fighting alone. SELI introduced me to a broader network of people who not only understood the challenges but were actively working to change them. My host site, the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI), showed me what this work looks like at a systems level. GBPI was part of multiple coalitions and policy initiatives, which exposed me to how organizations work together across sectors to advance equity. I also saw how even within a single organization, different departments could act as levers for change. My site supervisor was not only supportive during the fellowship but remains someone I can turn to as a mentor and resource today. GBPI gave me a real example of what collaborative, mission-driven policy work can look like. Now, as I pursue my doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy at Vanderbilt University, I am learning where I belong in the education system.
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ECHOES OF EXCELLENCE |
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