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Adrienne Kennedy | Lead Partner
What brings you joy & energy outside of work?
I love to travel. Seeing different parts of the world and meeting people from different cultures really gives me joy. I especially like to travel with my family and friends.
What is your life’s motto?
Be a fountain; not a drain.
What is something an educator said to you or taught you that has stuck with you for years?
I can clearly remember a college professor telling me that I had a responsibility to use my education to help others. He told me that I should not use what I learned to only benefit myself, that I had a moral obligation to make my community better. I will never forget those words.
Rebecca Guillory | Lead Partner
What is your life’s motto?
“Every experience is a stepping stone to something greater.” For me, this doesn’t mean where I’ve been isn’t important. Instead, it means all that I’ve experienced is connected and helped me learn more about who I am, what I want, and has better prepared me to excel in multiple areas of my life.
What is something an educator said to you or taught you that has stuck with you for years?
I still remember when I first started teaching and one of my dearest mentors and retired principal was listening to me try and plan out my entire career path. I had so many ideas for exactly how I thought everything would go from beginning to retirement. My mentor chuckled and said, “Rebecca, in everything you do and everywhere you go, focus on being and giving your best right where you are and simply be open to the world and its endless possibilities.” She was right, because my life’s journey has been far better than any plan I created in my mind.
What is one hope you have for the future of the K-12 U.S. education system?
Because our nation suffers from systemic racism, we unfortunately see mass inequities across our schools. I believe in the power and potential that exists within every child, everywhere. And for that reason, I hope we, as a collective, can redesign our entire system so every child has access to an excellent education.
Blog Post
The Power of the Pause: The Value of Self-Reflection
& Social-Emotional Learning for Educators
Dr. Nikki Fynn | February 8, 2021
What helps the helpers? SEL for school counselors’ mental health
(Schlund, J. & Fitzgerald, A., ASCD, 1/28/21)
Developing emotionally intelligent educators – Podcast
(Munger, K., Marcus, M., & Samadi, A., FuelEd & Neuroscience Meets SEL, January 2021)
The Pandemic Has Revealed What Really Matters in Education. (Spoiler: It’s Not Tests)
(Drummond-Forrester, K., EdSurge, 1/6/21)
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The Aspen Institute: Education & Society Program
Letter of Support for State Leadership on School Climate
TransformEd Joins 30 National Organizations
Committed to Ensuring State Leaders to Prioritize School Climate
As schools and communities seek to reinvent and recover in the midst of an active intersecting medical, economic, and racial crises, the time is ripe for state-level leaders to take an active role in helping schools create a positive learning environment for all students and teachers, both in-person and virtually.
State leaders are uniquely positioned to promote a healthy school climate by defining a state-wide vision for school climate, while supporting districts and schools to measure, improve, and establish a school climate learning agenda. TransformEd signed a letter of support along with 30 national organizations committing to ensuring school climate is prioritized in state education improvement priorities, pandemic recovery, and efforts to advance social mobility and racial justice.
About the Author: Transforming Education
