What Others are Saying
The fight for educational opportunity is the fight for equity. You can't get to the first without a courageous commitment to the second. But when you actually live those values, the difference you can make in the lives of students
is extraordinary.
Arne Duncan
Former United States Secretary
of Education
At a time when all the ills of society are being dumped at the schoolhouse door, the remarkable success of these two districts provides guidelines which, if followed, will produce positive change in academic achievement for all students. It is a blueprint educators will relate to and understand, one that can be measured and replicated.
Dr. Charles Ponquinette
Retired Illinois School Superintendent
In an era when children of color are nearly the majority in Illinois and the nation, two trailblazers, Bea Young and Carmen Ayala, joined forces to chart a course providing a primer to obtain educational equity, not just for students of color, but for all students. They demonstrate the importance of acknowledging the cultural gifts and strengths that students bring to the classroom, often ignored in our educational settings.
Sylvia Puente
Executive Director of the Latino Policy Forum
Restoring the Soul to Education is a gift to the world. It's written from the heart and soul with practical and applicable solutions. An engrossing while digestible story, told through the coauthors' lives and experiences, it offers us "how to's" so many are craving on the quest for
educational equity.
Jeannine Carter
Former Director of Diversity Initiatives, Denver Public Schools, and Head of Diversity Engagement, Facebook
In an era when children of color are nearly the majority in Illinois and the nation, two trailblazers, Bea Young and Carmen Ayala, joined forces to chart a course providing a primer to obtain educational equity, not just for students of color, but for all students. They demonstrate the importance of acknowledging the cultural gifts and strengths that students bring to the classroom, often ignored in our educational settings.
Dr. Harold Goldmeier
Entrepreneur, Public Speaker, Author, Business Strategist
I just started reading your co-authored book, Restoring the Soul to Education, and I do not want to put it down…. It is a precious gift! It is comforting and uplifting to see the audacity of hope in action and its hard-earned rewards, more importantly in this phenomenal time. Also, your team’s armor – love and understanding – is very touching.
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I finished your book and I have read some portions of it again twice in the last few weeks. Thinking back, working with you for the cultural audit at my college and at such an early stage in my professional experience was one of the rarest opportunities that has helped me to grow professionally and personally, both in my bid to join and in my efforts to sustain ‘the restoration of SOUL to education’ and community peace-building. I still refer to your recommendations from the audit because they are still very relevant.
Your book is a precious gift because it is filled with wisdom and guidance necessary for addressing and coping with conflicts and complexities in organizational development and human relationships.