Ep 31: Teacher advocacy, racial inequities, and police in schools with Sarah Iddrissu
On today's episode of Catalysts for Change, we talk to the Executive Director of Educators for Excellence, Sarah Iddrissu. At age 11, having suffered through five different elementary schools in two different countries, Sarah took matters into her own hands. She found a challenging school 15 miles from home, which offered a rich and engaged learning experience. Sarah became the first in her family to graduate from college. Sarah has dedicated her career to transforming the educational inequities in the Commonwealth and giving teachers a voice in the policies that impact their students and their profession. Sarah is a former Massachusetts teacher, Boston Public Schools district administrator, and liaison to the Massachusetts commissioner for school and district transformation.
Our conversation with Sarah covers her teacher advocacy work, racial inequities, and police in schools.
E4E is a teacher-led organization that ensures teachers have a leading voice around issues that are important to them. With 80% of its cohort being union members, Sarah works to build teachers as leaders to drive change.
Sarah strives to ensure that police officers are not functioning as disciplinarians or first responders to student distress. Research suggests that having police in schools actually makes students feel less safe
Sarah also discusses her co-founded March Like a Mother for Black Lives movement, which was established after the murder of George Floyd. This rally and protest allow mothers from all walks of life to engage in a meaningful conversation with a community committed to racial justice.
Transforming systemic educational inequities is challenging. We are grateful for innovators like Sarah, who continue to work to provide better and more equitable outcomes for teachers and students. Connect with Sarah and with her work at the links below.
Educators for Excellence links:
Link to E4E Boston's website
Read more on our campaign to invest in kids not cops
Hear directly from educators on how remote learning is going here.
March like a Mother links: