School Across America:
A Birmingham Town Hall

November 13, 2017
Birmingham, AL

Public education is intended to be the mechanism that provides every American child with an equal opportunity to succeed. Yet across the country, communities are grappling with the reality that more than six decades after Brown v. Board, access to quality education for all remains an elusive goal.

In the School Across America series, The Atlantic is examining how individual communities are grappling with the national challenges of rising inequality, persistent inequity, and a changing economy. This first installment sought to understand the shape of these national challenges in Birmingham, Alabama, bringing together local teachers, policymakers, students and advocates to explore the next steps for building a more equitable education system in the metro area.

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Presented by

Atlantic Live

Speakers

  • Lindsey Crider Bloodworth
    Lindsey Crider Bloodworth English Techer Ramsay High School
  • Trisha Powell Crain
    Trisha Powell Crain Education Reporter AL.com
  • Richard Franklin*
    Richard Franklin* President Birmingham American Federation of Teachers
  • Marrianne Hayward*
    Marrianne Hayward* President Jefferson County American Federation of Teachers
  • Zadren Hill
    Zadren Hill Sophomore Woodlawn High School
  • Waymond Jackson
    Waymond Jackson Senior Vice President for Public Policy Birmingham Business Alliance
  • Qadira Miner
    Qadira Miner Sophomore Ramsay High School
  • Tawanda Morgan
    Tawanda Morgan English Teacher Woodlawn High School
  • Joshua Ndegwa
    Joshua Ndegwa Senior Homewood High School
  • Craig Pouncey
    Craig Pouncey Superintendent Jefferson County School System
  • Alison Stewart
    Alison Stewart Contributing Editor AtlanticLIVE
  • Gwen Taylor
    Gwen Taylor Sophomore Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School
  • Donna Thomas
    Donna Thomas President Birmingham Council of PTAs
  • Randi Weingarten*
    Randi Weingarten* President American Federation of Teachers
  • Randall Woodfin
    Randall Woodfin Mayor-Elect City of Birmingham

Agenda

Note: All times are Central Time Zone

  • Monday, November 13
  • 5:30 p.m.WelcomeMargaret Low, President, AtlanticLIVE
  • 5:35 p.m.A Conversation with the Mayor-ElectRandall Woodfin, Mayor-Elect, City of Birmingham
    With Alison Stewart, Contributing Editor, AtlanticLIVE
  • 6:00 p.m.Student StoriesZadren Hill, Sophomore, Woodlawn High School
    Qadira Miner, Sophomore, Ramsay High School
    Joshua Ndegwa, Senior, Homewood High School
    Gwen Taylor, Sophomore, Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School
    With Alison Stewart, AtlanticLIVE
  • 6:35 p.m.What Would Success Look Like?Lindsey Crider Bloodworth, English Teacher, Ramsay High School
    Trisha Powell Crain, Education Reporter, AL.com
    L. Waymond Jackson, Jr., Senior Vice President, Public Policy; Vice President, Workforce Development, Birmingham Business Alliance
    Tawanda Morgan, English Teacher, Woodlawn High School
    Craig Pouncey, Superintendent, Jefferson County Public Schools
    Donna Thomas, President, Birmingham Council of PTAs
    With Alison Stewart, AtlanticLIVE
  • 7:20 p.m.Closing ThoughtsMargaret Low, AtlanticLIVE

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