Dr. Alex Marrero’s Post

Get to know Ed Fuller, our dedicated Director of Research at the Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium (PEDC). With a professorship in the Department of Education Policy Studies at Penn State University, Ed's extensive research focuses on educator quality, career pathways, diversity, and school improvement—areas vital to our mission. Ed’s experience includes impactful roles at the University of Texas at Austin and the Texas State Board for Educator Certification. His expertise in educator distribution, mobility, and turnover is essential in shaping strategies that foster diversity and equity in education across Pennsylvania. He is currently considered the leading expert on these issues in Pennsylvania. Watch for more information about how Ed’s research contributes to our shared goals #EducationEquity #DiversityInEducation #ResearchAndImpact #PEDC #CEEPA #DataEquity #EdPolicy

*A MOMMA (AND DADDY) I MADE IT MOMENT* I started my career in K-12 education when I was just 16 years old teaching Black History to elementary school students at Summerbridge (New Haven) at Hopkins School where I also served as the student member of the board. The summer before I began college, I did an externship at the Yale Child Study Center under Dr. James Comer’s leadership, who served on the board too. I went on to focus on creating positive school culture and climates for the next 12 years, transitioning to DC with a goal of dismantling the school-to-prison-pipeline at the federal level. The work I do at the intersection of politics and policy gets more attention, and only those who “know me, know me” know about my love of and work in the education equity, child development, and psychology spaces. While I now fight inequities with the many tools I’ve picked up along the way, I have always remained committed to and involved in education, including serving as Chair of DC’s Title I Committee of Practitioners (a federally-mandated body focused on educational equity) for 8 consecutive years. Even my doctoral degree is in (education) leadership, with a specialization in policy and administration. Before you can create new knowledge, a requirement for earning the degree, you must master what already exists. To share the stage with the very people whose work you had to study and master, as a newbie, is a BIG ^#%*in DEAL! I couldn’t think of a better way to pop back on the scene as a doctor than joining these academic superstars for this panel! I am genuinely honored “and” privileged to do what I do. I thank my Soror, Dr. Chonika King for her vision and leadership. Doctors Pedro A. Noguera, Bettina Love, Sheryl Evans Davis, EdD, and Chonika Coleman-King you all inspire me. Thank you. -The CROWN Act Champion & Scholar #education #doctor #educators #policy #students #schools #researcher #aera #climateandculture #freedomfighters #crownact #racialequity #racialjustice #educationequity #freedomschools #liberation

Celebrating student achievements! Florida's education leaders applaud the significant success of students, highlighting dedication and academic excellence. 🎓🌟 Florida’s Education Leaders Applaud the Significant Success of Students Read More: https://rb.gy/9ft08c #FloridaEducation #StudentSuccess #AcademicExcellence #EducationLeaders #CelebratingAchievement #EducationSuccess

We know first-hand what is most important and needed for students who look like us: in our classrooms, in our policies, and in our communities. EdLoC member, 2023 Boulder Fund Recipient, and CEO and Founder of Diversity in Leadership Institute Dr. Laura M. recently shared a piece on EdSource advocating for continued investment in teacher diversity recruitment and retention. Amid fiscal challenges in California's education system, the need for diverse representation in classrooms remains paramount. Research shows students thrive when taught by educators who reflect their backgrounds. It's time for school districts to prioritize teacher diversity to ensure all students feel seen and supported. As we commend the local and state initiatives driving teacher diversity, transparency, and community engagement remain crucial for sustained progress. Fiscal uncertainties shouldn't deter leaders from upholding commitments to teacher diversity. Continued investment in these efforts is vital for building a brighter future for California's diverse student population. Read Dr. Laura McGowan-Robinson's full article: https://shorturl.at/oswKL #WeAreEdLoC

Excited to have contributed to a timely article discussing how higher education institutions have evolved to better support students post-COVID-19. It's crucial we continue to innovate and prioritize student success in this new era. Read the deets: https://lnkd.in/gmpDC3tR.

The Covid-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered student affairs in US Higher Education. In our latest Leader Insights piece, we explore key transformations with strategies from leading professionals, including: Frank Cuevas, University of Tennessee Knoxville — on rebuilding campus engagement and fostering a sense of community. Jen Shaw, Saint Leo University — on addressing gaps in students' interpersonal skills post-Covid. WILLIAM HUDSON JR, Florida A&M University — on navigating social challenges and academic rigor. Dr. Rick Ezekiel, Dalhousie University — on empowering students to resolve conflicts independently. José Dela Cruz, Ph.D., Portland Community College — on providing holistic support for students' basic needs. Read about what these leaders have to say in the full article 👇 https://lnkd.in/ga6sJQs7

Yesterday, we held the final convening of the East Side Alliance Transformation Network, a four-year partnership of nine schools in San Jose, CA. The network focused on improvement in middle grades math for the first two years and whole-school transformation for the final two years. Partners is very proud to have supported collective action to improve on-track outcomes for students on the East Side. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll share highlights from the convening including opening remarks from Glenn VanderZee, superintendent of the East Side Union High School District; our honoring of Oak Grove School District Superintendent Jose L. Manzo, who is retiring at the end of the school year; and recognition of five individuals who’ve been awarded scholarships to support them as they earn their administrative services credential and become even stronger results-oriented change agents (ROCAs). In addition, we’ll share the reflections of the school teams that were the heroes of this four-year journey. Because Partners believes in the power of story-telling as a way for schools to capture their continuous-improvement work and spread successful practices, we invited each team to encapsulate their growth in five-minute Ignite presentations. For example, pictured below is the team from Davis Intermediate – Ginelyn Kudsi, Jose Acosta, and Rachel Pike – who reflected on several improvement efforts over the past four years, including a refinement of professional learning communities that has resulted in greater teacher engagement and agency, increased collaboration among teachers of different grades, and improved student-teacher relationships. The Davis team’s story is just one example; stay tuned for more! #education #equity #EducationEquity #K12Education #EducationalLeadership #EducationForAll #ProfessionalDevelopment #StorytellingForChange

Of course it is

You all know how I feel about the University of Maryland College of Education! Tackling today’s biggest challenges in education, counseling and human development is what we do! Get inspired by the work #EdTerps are leading. Watch here: go.umd.edu/49hqVhx #EdTerpsforGood

"I was SO nervous!" This is a common refrain Unify America hears from college students whose professors assign the Unify Challenge College Bowl. And who can blame them? Understandably, the thought of getting paired with a stranger from another college who may not align with your political ideology to reason through complex societal issues sounds intimidating. Many of the students who join the College Bowl come from diverse fields such as nursing, aerospace engineering, nutrition, aviation, and criminal justice—not necessarily political science. They aren't the "hand raisers" for these types of activities. They're often not the ones found at campus debates, joining protests, or participating in civic-oriented clubs. Many hesitate to express their political views or fear confrontational discussions. Given today's climate, their reluctance makes sense. However, our democracy relies on fostering civic preparedness among the next generation. We must equip all students with the necessary skills and confidence that come from practice. Listening to students share their experiences of engaging in challenging conversations and discussing critical issues facing America today underscores the importance of our mission. We provide a scalable and measurable approach to helping Gen Z practice open inquiry, constructive disagreement, and build their civic skills. Today, we collaborate with 205 higher education institutions, and we invite you to join us in this crucial endeavor. If you are thinking of someone we should connect with or a campus you work with, please let us know. #civicpreparedness #democracy #civiclearning