One advocate’s journey to improve Detroit public schools
Sharlonda Buckman-Davis says that if she had the support of a parent organization advocating for her when she was in school, she would have been much more likely to thrive.
Detroit schools have changed a lot in the past few decades. Most notably, the student population has been declining for some time.
With the loss of students — and with many people having left the city — the tax base has been hit. As a result, the Detroit Public Schools Community District has been hurt too.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of people working to improve the school system.
“My experience actually started during those early years and really cemented what I believe about what needs to happen to ignite change and create equity and opportunity for all young people.” — Sharlonda Buckman-Davis, school advocate
Listen: Why one person became an advocate for students in Detroit’s public schools.
Guest
Sharlonda Buckman-Davis is the author of “The Ardent Advocate” and Assistant Superintendent of Family and Community Engagement for the Detroit Public Schools Community District. She says she was influenced to push for positive changes because of her experience, having been expelled from the city’s public schools at age 14.
“My experience actually started during those early years and really cemented what I believe about what needs to happen to ignite change and create equity and opportunity for all young people,” says Buckman-Davis.
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