My sixth-grade reading teacher, Mrs. Rita Diaz, was the first mentor who made me feel that I belonged. As an African-American student, I very rarely saw teachers of color, and Mrs. Diaz, who is Cuban, not only made me feel accepted, she also pushed me to work hard and pursue my dreams. All these years later, she has remained my mentor – even attending my wedding.

Just like my younger self, I’ve needed mentors along my career path to help me believe that I belong. In education where school system leadership is overwhelmingly white and male, people of color are often made to feel that we are not meant to be successful – or that our successes are an accident rather than the product of hard work and determination in the face of odds that are stacked far too high. There have been points in my career where I’ve questioned whether I should stay in education, but thanks to the mentors and support I’ve had, I’ve overcome doubts to rise as a leader.

That encouragement may have started in childhood with Mrs. Diaz as my mentor – but now takes a formal form through the Chiefs for Change Future Chiefs fellowship. If this country is serious about dealing with the mismatch between its public school population – now more than half non-white – and the tiny fraction of system leaders who are people of color, programs like Future Chiefs are vital.

Future Chiefs works to help diverse young education leaders hone their skills in board management, academics, personnel issues, politics and more. The program includes mentorship from sitting state and district chiefs, workshops with guidance from education experts and a network of talented peers learning right beside me.

Through Future Chiefs, I’ve learned that even if someone doubts me, whether because of the color of my skin or something else, I am exactly where I need to be. I’m honored to lead the Lorain City School District, where students are defying the odds every day because of teachers and leaders who care about them. I’m also excited to be part of the Future Chiefs program, which is actively working to build a pipeline of leaders of color by giving us not just vital skills and mentorship, but also networks and political and social capital that many of my white counterparts are born into. The program gives me access to amazing education leaders from across the country who are my mentors, my cheerleaders and my strategists, just like Mrs. Diaz has been since I was 11.

I see myself in many of the 6,700 students who sit in Lorain’s classrooms today, the majority of whom are students of color. Thankfully, I also see many Mrs. Diazes in Lorain’s schools – teachers who ready to help students flourish, no matter their zip code or background. The challenges in my district are myriad: little access to prekindergarten, persistent racial gaps in student performance, low college enrollment rates and even lower college graduation rates. But despite these numbers, incredible things are happening in Lorain, and my goal is to create a system that gives teachers the tools and the flexibility they need to ensure all children are successful.

As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week this week, l want to thank Mrs. Diaz and the countless other educators in my district and beyond who are making students feel like they belong.

When I became a teacher, I often asked myself “What would Mrs. Diaz do?” when I needed to inject a little extra energy into my lessons. I would call her for wisdom and encouragement when I was stuck or needed to problem solve. I would not be who I am today without Mrs. Diaz, who is retiring this year after a full career of changing students’ trajectories. Mrs. Diaz taught me that every child has the ability to be great, and I’ve carried that lesson with me throughout my career.

Teacher Appreciation Week

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