10.27.2020 a project of - New Schools for Baton Rouge

10.27.2020

Exceptional Leadership Starts Now
Best Practices for new managers

                  a project of

WELCOME
Dear friends,

I am proud to welcome you to our 2nd annual convening of education
stakeholders, where we hope to continue the community dialogue on the
issue of Education As a Civil Right we began a year ago.

While education is not universally recognized as a civil right, it has been
more than 65 years since Brown vs. Board of Education made it illegal for
public schools to discriminate on the basis of race. During this moment in
our nation's history, and with the challenges presented by the global
pandemic we believe a conversation about solutions is well overdue.

After eight years working to address the needs of some of the most
underserved students in our city, we are grateful to continue to gather a
diverse group of stakeholders for an open discussion of the issues
impacting so many Baton Rouge families.

Thank you for your interest and engagement in being a part of the
solution. We are excited to partner with you in making Baton Rouge better,
and in realizing our vision of an excellent school for every child in our city.

Onward,

Chris Meyer
CEO for New Schools for Baton Rouge

EDUCATION AS A
    CIVIL RIGHT
In our second annual Education as a Civil Right convening, national, state
and local leaders will gather virtually to address issues of educational
equity during a global pandemic. From learning pods to the digital divide,
this year's theme explores how COVID-19 will impact learning
opportunities for students. This year, we will continue to seek solutions for
how Baton Rouge and the nation can deliver on the promise of education
as the pathway to the American Dream.

    NEW SCHOOLS FOR
    BATON ROUGE
Founded in 2012, New Schools for Baton Rouge (NSBR) is a community
partnership bringing together talent and resources that deliver excellent
schools to students and families in Baton Rouge. Its mission is to ensure
there is an excellent school for every child in our city and we invest in
programs and initiatives that support the success of schools to expand
and sustain excellence citywide.

AGENDA

8:30 a.m.   Welcome - Chris Meyer
            CEO, New Schools for Baton Rouge

8:45 a.m.   Keynote - John B. King, Jr.
            CEO, The Education Trust

9:30 a.m.   Educating Young Black Men
            100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge

10:10 a.m. Student Voices Panel
           Myra Richardson, Facilitator

10:50 a.m. The Role of Community
           Casey Phillips, Facilitator

11:30 a.m. 8 Black Hands Podcast Baton Rouge

SPEAKERS
Chris Meyer is a Louisiana native and father of two boys. Chris is a former educator who has been involved in local reform efforts
in instrumental ways before founding New Schools for Baton Rouge in 2012. Chris led the Recovery School District’s Office of
Portfolio and served alongside State Superintendent Paul Pastorek, where he pioneered efforts to turn around underperforming
schools and shaped the legislative and regulatory framework to enable school transformation and charter school expansion. Chris
began his career in education with Teach For America in New Orleans, where he taught high school social studies and coached
basketball at John McDonogh High School. Following Hurricane Katrina, Chris led over 200 students who had evacuated to achieve
significant academic gains.

Chris received his undergraduate degree, Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude from Tulane University and his master’s degree from
Harvard University. He was also a member of the 2008-2009 White House Fellowship class, where he served as Special Assistant
to the U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

John B. King Jr. is the president and CEO of The Education Trust, a national nonprofit organization that seeks to identify and close
opportunity and achievement gaps, from preschool through college. King served in President Barack Obama’s cabinet as the 10th
U.S. Secretary of Education. In tapping him to lead the U.S. Department of Education, President Obama called King “an exceptionally
talented educator,” citing his commitment to “preparing every child for success” and his lifelong dedication to education as a
teacher, principal, and leader of schools and school systems.

Before becoming education secretary, King carried out the duties of the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education, overseeing all policies
and programs related to P-12 education, English learners, special education, and innovation. In this role, King also oversaw the
agency’s operations. King joined the department following his tenure as the first African American and Puerto Rican to serve as New
York State Education Commissioner.

King’s life story is an extraordinary testament to the transformative power of education. Both of King’s parents were career New York
City public school educators, whose example serves as an enduring inspiration. Both of King’s parents passed away from illness by
the time he was 12 years old. He credits New York City public school teachers — particularly educators at P.S. 276 in Canarsie and
Mark Twain Junior High School in Coney Island — for saving his life by providing him with rich and engaging educational
experiences and by giving him hope for the future.

Brace B. “Trey” Godfrey, a career entrepreneur, investor, speaker and coach, is the Executive Director of the 100 Black Men of
Metro Baton Rouge, the first Executive Director in the organization’s 26-year history. In his first year at the helm of The 100, the
organization posted its highest ever revenues and was named Chapter of the Year by the 100 Black Men of America.

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Godfrey is a graduate of Episcopal High School. He matriculated at Tulane University, where he
earned a football scholarship, playing defensive back. During his career as a student- athlete, he was named to the Tulane University
Dean’s List and the Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll. Following his graduation, Godfrey attended graduate
school at Tulane, focusing his studies in the areas of social sciences and communications. While a full-time graduate student,
Godfrey coached football at Tulane for nearly four years.

Following in the footsteps of his late father, Godfrey remains civically engaged. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Episcopal
School of Baton Rouge and the Board of Directors of Knock Knock Children’s Museum; and is a past board member of American
Heart Association, Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, YMCA of Metro Baton Rouge, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge,
Baton Rouge Green, Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance (BREADA), 100 Black Men Capitol High Academy
Charter initiative, CW Lamar Branch YMCA (past Board Chair), Camelot Society of Young Professionals, Mewelde Moore Knowledge
First Foundation, and the Jimmy Williams Intercepting our Youth Foundation.

SPEAKERS
Kenneth Campbell is Executive Director, Southern Louisiana of IDEA Public Schools. Mr. Campbell has decades of experience
creating exceptional education opportunities for children to his position at IDEA. Before joining IDEA Public Schools, he was the
President of Black Alliance for Educational Options, Inc. (BAEO). BAEO is one of the leading education reform advocacy
organizations in the nation. Under his leadership, BAEO created, protected, and advocated for high-quality school options in some
of America’s most underserved communities.

Dana Peterson is the former Assistant State Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of the Baton Rouge Achievement Zone,
positions he took over in March 2017 after serving as the Deputy Superintendent of External Affairs for the RSD for five years.

Tyronne Dunn is the chief administrator of Peak Behavioral Health Services. Peak provides behavioral health services, such as
mental health services, for adults, adolescents, and children and presents itself to the public as a provider of behavioral health
services.

Myra Richardson is a lifelong civil servant and a native of Baton Rouge. Evolving surrounded by adversity, she is observant, potent,
and impactful in her community. Myra is a local and nationally recognized leader, strategist, advocate, and catalyst. Richardson
began her catalytic journey by founding the local youth group - The Wave - following the death of Alton Sterling which catapulted
outcry for change in government policy and police reform. Her engagements range from her leadership role as Louisiana’s
Ambassador for the Women’s March on Washington to serving as the youngest elected board member to the East Baton Rouge
Democratic Parish Executive Committee. In addition, Myra is working as the lead coordinator with the continuation of the legacy of
Ms. Sadie Roberts-Joseph. Her experience as a youth engagement specialist, culture curator, and political strategist is giving her a
unique perspective as she is collaborating with Baton Rouge’s local legislative bodies, Louisiana’s legislature, national
organizations, and delegations. She sits on a myriad of boards, steering committees and initiatives surrounding economic
development, equitable representation, and endowing marginalized communities. Myra is embodying progressivism by seeking to
create a more equitable future for Louisiana and beyond.

Casey Phillips is a creative futurist with 20+ years of experience forecasting and launching entertainment, technology, and arts
brands. Prominent brand strategist specializing in the cultural economy and nonprofit sector by implementing innovative strategies
based on global best practices, data analysis and future market trends.

Proponent of creative placemaking and smart growth principles to reactivate communities through collaborative community
development. Founder of The Force Agency in Los Angeles, California and Co-Founder/Director of The Walls Project 501c3 in Baton
Rouge, Louisiana.

Emily Chatelain - Three O'Clock Project - When the school bell rings at three o'clock, many children do not have nutritious meals –
or any meal at all – to look forward to at home. Their mission is to provide healthy meals and nutrition education for at-risk students
after school.

J. Daniels - Partners Southeast/EBRPHA - Partners Southeast is an experienced developer and operator of sustainable communities
that provide exceptional living experiences to all residents. As a leading provider of affordable housing in the Southeast region since
2000, Partners creates impactful economic opportunities in various communities. By seamlessly mixing market-rate and affordable
units, communities developed and operated by Partners Southeast are vibrant and diverse.

Reverend Alexis Anderson - PREACH - PREACH is a 501 (c) 3 non profit focusing on the 3 C’s of literacy: competence in basic life
skills, computerization and commerce with a special focus on special need populations such as domestic violence survivors,
ex-offenders, low and at risk families.

SPEAKERS
Chris Stewart is Chief Executive Officer for the RIE Foundation, better known as Education Post. Stewart’s past role as CEO for the
Wayfinder Foundation, Executive Director of the African American Leadership Forum, and a public elected member of the
Minneapolis Board of Education were the result of years of activism in education and social policy. For a decade prior to entering
philanthropy and public policy, he worked directly with families in poverty through public and private organizations. The Bush
Foundation named Stewart a 2014 leadership fellow.

In 2011, Chris organized community members for two campaigns in Minnesota: Action For Equity, a grassroots effort to inspire
innovation in family and education policy at the state level, and the Contract for Student Achievement, a coalition of community
organizations working to achieve greater flexibility for underperforming schools through changes to Minneapolis’ teachers’ contract.
Chris serves on the boards of Ed Navigators, GreatSchools, and Parents Radically Organized. Chris blogs and tweets under the
name Citizen Stewart and publishes at Citizenstewart.com. He is based in outstate Minnesota.

Ray Ankrum is a firm believer that education can be the catalyst to eradicate generational poverty. Since working in the Baltimore
City Public School System and transitioning into the charter school world, he has served students in the position of Dean of Students
at Democracy Prep Public Charter School, Principal at Harlem Village Academies, & now Superintendent of Riverhead Charter
School located on Long Island, NY. Mr. Ankrum is currently in advanced candidacy for his doctorate at Manhattanville College, where
he is set to defend his doctoral dissertation in August of 2020. The title of Ankrum’s doctoral proposal is “The Successes and
Challenges of Parent Engagement in Urban Charter Schools. Ray is also an alumni of the Summer Principals Academy, 2009
Cohort.

Sharif El-Mekki is the founder of The Fellowship - Black Male Educators for Social Justice, the Center for Black Educator
Development and Phillys7thWard.org. After attending an elementary Freedom School, middle school in Iran, and Overbrook High
School (1988), El-Mekki attended Indiana University of PA (IUP) on a full academic scholarship. After a brief stint as a social worker
and counselor at the Youth Study Center, he became eager to make a proactive, community-based impact which led him to work in
community-based public schools.

As the son of two Black Panther Party members (and the cousin of two additional BPP members), El-Mekki had a strong desire to
dive into a cause that would address issues relating to social justice, equity, and educational opportunities. In 1992, El-Mekki
became a teacher through an alternative certification program for black men, through a collaborative effort between the School
District of Philadelphia, Concerned Black Men, and Cheyney University. After ten years at John P. Turner Middle School, his
placement school, El-Mekki began his five-year principalship at Anna H. Shaw Middle School, where he helped lead a turnaround
school team, significantly raising student achievement levels and creating a nurturing student-centered learning environment.
El-Mekki then served as the proud principal of Mastery Charter School-Shoemaker Campus, a neighborhood public charter that
served almost 800 students in grades 7-12 for eleven years. El-Mekki served as one of Secretary Arne Duncan’s inaugural group of
Principal Ambassadors, providing the principalship perspective to the US Secretary of Education. He currently serves on the Mayor’s
Commission on African-American Males, is a member of Education Leaders of Color, and several other education and
community-based organizations.

Dr. Charles Cole, III is an educator focused on the advancement of youth of color, but more specifically Black males. This passion
comes from his experiences growing up without proper support, including being homeless and attending more than ten elementary
schools across the country while his parents battled addiction and incarceration. Throughout that experience, no adult, no group,
no organization ever asked him how he was achieving success nor how he was surviving. Schools were not a place where students
in similar predicaments were learning. This experience helped lead to the publication of his first book, Beyond Grit and Resilience .
As founder of Energy Convertors, Charles comes from the community and has shared many of the students’ experiences. Previously
Charles served as a social worker, a Director for Teach for America, the Vice Chair of the California Young Democrats, Black Caucus
and at a director’s level with various youth-focused nonprofits.

In addition to founding Energy Convertors, Charles is a national speaker and a writer, and he can be found in Oakland and around
the country working with youth on how to equip themselves appropriately to lay the groundwork for a bright future. Charles is
currently a board member of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, and co-host of the 8 Black Hands Podcast.
Charles’ life goal is to better the communities he grew up in, which include Chicago, Paducah, KY, and Oakland.

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