|
Dear friends, As we wrap up Black History Month, we at JET proudly honor the invaluable contributions of Black paraprofessionals within our community. Let us also remember that our commitment to celebrating and uplifting our Scholars extends far beyond February—Black educators have a daily profound impact on the lives of students and communities across Massachusetts and beyond. There are unsung veteran Black women educators who have been critical to the development of JET. We want to thank Casel Walker for her ongoing wise guidance, love of her communities, and her expertise shared so generously with the founders of JET. Our team is grateful that you placed the value of racial equity front and center in JET’s work, so our team could continue the work. Thank you, Casel, for all you’ve done for JET scholars and their school communities over the years! This month, we were delighted to gather with Scholars and Mentors virtually at our Mid-Year Meeting. Together, we celebrated our community’s academic and professional successes, and engaged in a keynote discussion led by our Executive Director on the art of giving and receiving feedback. Many attendees expressed feeling more connected to the JET community and gained valuable tools for professional relationships. As one Scholar shared, “Since I began writing this new chapter in my life, my mentor has always been ready to support me in the challenges that I have faced in my professional development [and] my personal life. I am confident that with her by my side, I will be able to achieve my goals for the future.” JET is a proud advocate for and member of the Educator Diversity Act Coalition in Massachusetts. Our Executive Director participated in last week’s panel discussion of a new report that reveals if current trends hold, the representation gap between students and teachers of color in Massachusetts will continue to grow to nearly 40% by 2030. We ask you to join us in urging legislators to pass the Educator Diversity act by sending an email to your State Representative and State Senator and ask them to co-sponsor the Educator Diversity Act, HD.3621/SD.1831: An Act Relative to Educator Diversity, which was filed by Representative Alice Peisch and Senator Lewis. Let's continue championing the voices of Black paraeducators, not just this month, but every day. As such, we invite you to also get to know the work of our sister organizations, like He Is Me, leader of the Black Male Teacher Initiative in MA, dedicated to recruiting and retaining Black men to join and stay in the teaching profession. Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our collective mission! All the best,
The JET Team
|
