At 3:15 p.m., the school pick-up line is buzzing with conversation. Parents and caregivers are swapping stories, kids are bursting through the gates, backpacks swinging. It occurs to me, “What if the next great educator isn’t sitting in a college lecture hall, but right here holding their child’s hand, carrying the wisdom of lived experience, and ready to lead?” I believe that the talent our schools need is already here—rooted in our communities. Our job is simple: see it, nurture it, and watch it thrive.

At a time of heightened tension and political divides, EdLoC members traveled from across the country to unite in our Nation's capital to advocate for our shared values. Twenty-one members gathered alongside our allies to speak truth to power during Hill Week on behalf of their students, families, and communities.

With the new Congress focusing on short-term political wins rather than opportunities for the next generation of students, we knew the stakes would be higher. But after a policy advocacy training designed to educate members on our policy priorities and how to engage policymakers in conversations in this moment, members were ready to address today's urgent issues with their representatives.

Public education is one of the few pathways to generational economic advancement, but it can only fulfill this promise when students have safe and secure learning environments. The current dismantling of public education and school funding, paired with hostile immigration policies, is a direct attack on the opportunities young people of color need and deserve.

I’ve witnessed firsthand how public education can transform entire communities. I was one of four brothers and one of the few in my hometown to graduate high school, and among even fewer to pursue higher education. School was my safe haven in a community where so many struggled. Now as a superintendent, I am committed to ensuring that every student sees themselves reflected in their education and believes in their potential for a better tomorrow.