Thank You Rosalie Reyes
We share our best wishes for DC Area Educators for Social Justice (DCAESJ) coordinator Rosalie Reyes who is departing Teaching for Change and stepping into new horizons in their life. As they describe their next pursuits: “I will be diving into early childhood education research, continuing racial justice pursuits through birth-work as a doula, and I will begin Washington State University's Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education doctoral program in the fall.”
We appreciate all Rosalie has done to develop the work of the DCAESJ working groups, teach-ins, Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action, Teach Central America, Teach the Beat, and more.
Rosalie shared that some of their favorite memories from two and a half years at Teaching for Change are:
Black Lives Matter at School Curriculum Fairs at Howard University, especially “the wonderful workshops, free books donated by publishers, and the liberation chants.”
Social Justice Books Committee meetings “with staff and tons of children's books around us during literature reviews. Many laughs, deep thoughts, and critical reflections.”
Visiting Shayna Tivona's Pre-K classroom at Thomson ES (DCPS) during the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action. Shayna and her students were centering the guiding principle, “unapologetically Black.” “The class read Black All Around, incorporated an art lesson celebrating diversity of skin colors, and I met a preschooler named Rosalie! It was beautiful.”
Our friends and collaborators shared words of appreciation, including:
From our years together organizing the Teaching for Change and National Museum of the American Indian Teach-In, I sincerely appreciate your continued efforts to make things happen in a good way with gentle, supportive, and firm guidance in social justice teaching and learning! I learned from you and hope your path continues to be paved in goodness; you deserve it! Niyawe (thank you) for being you! —Renee Gokey, National Museum of the American Indian
I am so honored to have had a front row seat to all of the amazing work you have done for ECE and DCAESJ. You exude love, justice, kinship, all that. I am so thankful you always answered my call when needed, you totally SHINED on the teacher panel at the Teachers in the Movement Living Black Histories this past summer. You do so much but at the core you care about people. So excited to see all the great things you will do. Peace. —Tiffany Mitchell Patterson, Teaching for Change board
Thank you, Rosalie, for your enthusiasm and creativity. I’ve really enjoyed brainstorming with you about ways in which Teaching for Change and An Open Book could collaborate. All the best to you!!! —Heidi Powell, An Open Book Foundation