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
Speakers
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![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 @LeondrasJr -
![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 @alisonstewart -
![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 - 6:25 p.m.The Promise of Public Education*
Produced by our underwriter American Federation of TeachersRichard Franklin, President, Birmingham American Federation of Teachers
Marrianne Hayward, President, Jefferson County American Federation of Teachers
Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers
*This session was produced by American Federation of Teachers and not by The Atlantic's editorial team. - 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
