Learning Forward
Equity and excellence in teaching and learning.
FOCUS
‘Equity work is not a zero-sum game’
By Tauheedah Baker-Jones and Suzanne Bouffard
Categories: Learning systems/planning, Reaching all students, Resources, System leadershipDecember 2021
Tauheedah Baker-Jones is Atlanta Public Schools’ first chief equity and social justice officer. She developed and now oversees the district’s Center for Equity and Social Justice and the district’s equity framework. She shared some of her experiences and learnings, as well as reflections on how districts can enable equity officers to be successful, with The Learning Professional. Highlights of that conversation follow. On being the district’s first chief equity and social justice officer: When I first started in this role, I encountered some resistance. To counter it, it was important to help people see that equity work is not a zero-sum game, and that this work is not about baiting, shaming, and guilt. All of us were born into this current system, none of us
Read the remaining content with membership access. Join or log in below to continue.
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.
Recommendations for supporting equity leaders
- Establish a clear understanding of and commitment to equity goals, and align your mission and policies with those goals.
- Allocate resources for an equity officer and equity team as well as for their learning and development.
- Embed equity in every department in the district, and empower the equity officer to build relationships across departments.
- Position the equity officer as part of the senior leadership team, and give the officer voice and decision-making power.
- Together with the equity officer, build relationships with the community, and communicate your equity vision and goals.
Source: Anderson, J. (2021). 5 ways to support equity leaders. Usable Knowledge. www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/21/06/five-ways-support-equity-leaders
Tauheedah Baker-Jones’ experiences with intersections across race, ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity, have given her a unique view into how children can be adversely affected by educational inequity and marginalization.
Suzanne Bouffard is senior vice president of communications and publications at Learning Forward. She is the editor of The Learning Professional, Learning Forward’s flagship publication. She also contributes to the Learning Forward blog and webinars. With a background in child development, she has a passion for making research and best practices accessible to educators, policymakers, and families. She has written for many national publications including The New York Times and the Atlantic, and previously worked as a writer and researcher at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Duke University and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. She loves working with authors to help them develop their ideas and voices for publication.
Categories: Learning systems/planning, Reaching all students, Resources, System leadership
CURRENT ISSUE
Recent Issues
LEARNING WITH AI
February 2026
Generative AI can be a powerful tool for professional learning design and...
WHAT STUDENTS NEED NOW
December 2025
For all students to thrive, we need to understand who they are and what...
LEARNING COMMUNITIES FOR LEADERS
October 2025
Leaders need opportunities to connect, learn, and grow with peers just as...
MAXIMIZING RESOURCES
August 2025
This issue offers advice about making the most of professional learning...
