PHOTO BY ILIAN RIVERA

After a Thursday morning visit to Illinois’ Dolton West School District 148, site of September’s 2023 CUBE Annual Conference experiential learning visit, I knew I had to change the remarks I had planned to deliver later in the day during my State of Urban Education address.

Students at the K-8 district’s Lincoln School, who escorted their CUBE guests on tour, proudly wore shirts that identified them as Student Ambassadors. They confidently bridged the gap and welcomed us into their home. 

An ambassador led me down a hallway, pointing out a first-grade classroom here, a second-grade classroom there, and so on. At the end of one hallway, she guided me to the food services staff and introduced the people who prepare her school meals. It struck me that the student ambassadors were not omitting anyone as they highlighted who made their school community work. That left me thinking: Why are school boards still leaving out people who are a part of their communities? And why are we still leaving children behind?

To discuss the state of urban education, we must start talking about us: We’re the state; we are the policymakers. We are the people who say we are going to approve this budget to make sure that this or that program is included. How did we forget that we are in communities to take care of each other? When will we stop coming to conferences and saying the problem is “them”?

This summer, I listened to author Stephen Covey speak at the NSBA Summer Leadership Seminar, and his words resonated with me: “You are leaders of leaders. You are the leader of the leaders—the administrators, the superintendents, the people who run the schools.”

As board members, we’re used to getting blamed for every unpopular decision. No matter where the decision came from or who said it, ultimately, the responsibility falls on the board. 

Well, I need you to start putting your chest back and your shoulders up, and as the professionals that you are, say, “Yes, that’s the decision we as a board made.” I want you to “say it with your chest,” as my grandfather used to say. “Yes, this is the position we adopted. Yes, I’m the leader.” As school board members, you are inspired, inspirational, and trustworthy leaders. You are the leaders of the leaders. You’re it. And we collectively must run things together.

I know that you are working hard, attending all the state representative meetings, participating on a dozen or more community committees, in addition to the school board. All that work and involvement does not stop community members from coming to you for the resources and information that they need. And why should it? We are the leaders of leaders. 

Our most important job is to ensure that every child, regardless of where he or she lives, has access to a quality education. These are all our babies, no matter how they come to our schools. 

I don’t care if I can’t speak their language. That’s my baby.

I don’t care if they stutter. That’s my baby.

I don’t care if they walk with a limp. That’s my baby. 

I don’t care if their mother didn’t teach them how to read. That’s my baby. 

When are we going to take responsibility for all the babies who walk into our schools? Do you think that’s just the superintendent’s job? Newsflash: As leaders of leaders, that’s our job.

No matter how our babies are coming to us, they are coming to us. No matter the conditions that you must send them back to, you have to give them more than the condition that they are in. 

Take advantage of the situation. Negotiate the terms. But don’t leave another student behind. Don’t let another student come to your district and be without. Find a way. Let today be your start in finding that way. 

(This article is adapted from Garrett’s CUBE Annual State of Urban Education address.)

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Gill Garrett (gill.garrett@pontiacschools.org) is the 2023-25 chair of the CUBE Steering Committee and president of Michigan’s Pontiac School District Board of Education.