Education Brain Trust

The outlook for black students in Des Moines -- and the state -- is alarming.   Iowa tops the nation for suspending and expelling black students and imprisoning blacks, according to national education data and criminal justice research.

Our children our dying physically, spiritually, economically and they're dying educationally.

The Education Brain Trust is the vehicle to help and a call to action to the community. 

Staring in May 2008, a series of monthly meetings will be held in specific areas or zones around the city by the Education Brain Trust, a group of about 50 members including educators, activists and others.

The first step is healing first.  There's a great deal of pain in our families and communities and this goes right to the classroom. 

Some blacks have repeatedly expressed concerns that community progress can be stalled because of conflicts between different leaders, churches or differences in residents' socio-economic levels, among other issues.  It's time to put those issues aside and work together.

The one thing we can agree on is that we love our children and we want what is best for our children.

Establishing partnerships with community colleges across the state, working with parents in each zone to develop specific plans for black children from the time they are preschoolers until they graduate from college are two of the first steps.

Communication is a big goal of the group, which has plans for a cable access television show and educational events for parents.

"We're looking at various means of being able to communicate," Paulette Wiley said. "In six months, Education Brain Trust will be a household name."

This scenario reminds me of a recent meeting I attended about the Education Brain Trust. Paulette Wiley, a community activist, resurrected the group because she doesn't believe the Des Moines School District is doing a good job of serving its African-American children. Wiley is frustrated by what she views as a lack of action by district officials to replace four black principals who retired and promote black employees into key administrative positions.

Des Moines Superintendent Nancy Sebring told Wiley and 30 meeting-goers that Iowa has a dearth of qualified black candidates for principals and superintendents. Sebring said she attempted to find black candidates with the appropriate licensure for top positions but had no luck. She told the group last week that change will happen "more slowly than we want."

Her speech detailing how the district goes about trying to hire black administrators reminded me of my efforts to lose weight -- doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Madness.

If the Des Moines School District is serious about finding black candidates who are qualified, Sebring will have to go beyond making a call to a former co-worker and waiting on current employees to graduate from the district's "grow your own" program.

Officials said when they try to recruit minority candidates to Iowa, they say it's too cold and they balk at living somewhere where there are few blacks.

Well, it's always going to be cold in Iowa, and I doubt Iowa will ever become a black hub.

So do something differently. Give the candidates extra money, perks or signing bonuses. Partner with historically black colleges. Groom the district's brightest black students and pay for their college tuition -- and then hire and promote them. Enlist the help of black educators, business leaders and others to help promote Des Moines to potential candidates.

I grew up in Des Moines and was fortunate to have one of the principal retirees, Udell Cason, at my elementary school. Logan had several black educators including two my sister and I remember fondly -- Norma Carter and Naomi Jeffers. In high school, nationally renowned drama teacher, Ruth Ann Gaines, inspired me and ultimately influenced my choice of careers. 

My classmates and I knew that these black educators were our allies at school. Their actions and words let us know that they cared about us and wanted the best for us. They were like our parents away from home -- they commanded our respect and they expected greatness from us. We had a rapport with them that was partially about race, identity and culture.

Having minorities represented throughout all the district's ranks can be a powerful motivator for black students. It's especially important now as the district continues to falter in tackling disparate suspension rates and the academic achievement gap.

The status quo isn't enough to satisfy Wiley. Or Pam Williams, instructor of the Isiserettes Drill and Drum group, who told the group she is dismayed that the same problems have persisted in the district for more than two decades. Problems the Education Brain Trust studied in 1982 when it formed.

So if Sebring is serious about helping black students succeed, she will speedily go above the typical recruiting efforts and find and hire qualified black principals and key administrators who can inspire all children -- but especially black children.

Meanwhile, people like Wiley plan to make sure it happens. The group is planning to work with seven school districts across the state and is planning a statewide summit in early 2008. Wiley's getting more parents involved. They plan to keep watchful eyes trained on black students and staff. 

Well, Turkey Day is upon us. And, I plan to keep a watchful eye on my portion sizes and waistline (such as it is). Who knows, maybe instead of doing the same old thing I do every year -- eating to excess and starting to diet on Friday -- I'll slip on my gym shoes now and start exercising. Success awaits me -- as it might the district should it follow a new path.

Reprinted with Permission
©Copyright, 2007 Iowa Independent