Walden University Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Dr. Denise Boston sat down with Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises to discuss their careers in education and experience in working with diverse student populations.
Dr. Santelises has spent close to 30 years focused on building high-quality teaching and learning to help students excel. She has worked for Baltimore City Public Schools for nearly 10 years, and she previously served as vice president for K-12 policy and practice at The Education Trust, a nonprofit focused on closing the achievement gap experienced disproportionately by African American, Latino and Native students and students from low-income families. Throughout her career as an educator, academic and administrator, Dr. Santelises has been steadfast in her belief that excellence in urban education is achievable at scale.
In recognition of Black History Month, Dr. Boston and Dr. Santelises discuss how it can serve as a reminder for educators to reflect on how effectively schools are teaching black history to students throughout the year, not just in February. They highlight the value of integrating the history of black excellence and success into curriculums on a regular basis to show students they have the ability to impact the world.