Episode 28: Once a Parent Activist, Always a Parent Activist (feat. Chris Stewart)

BY Ed Post Staff May 28, 2019

In this episode, we speak with Chris Stewart, CEO of Education Post, about education reform. We discuss why education reform has become a bad word as well as how to empower parents to have greater control over their kids' education. Chris Stewart is the Chief Executive Officer of Education Post. He is a lifelong activist and 20-year supporter of nonprofit and education-related causes. In the past, Stewart has served as the director of outreach and external affairs for Education Post, the executive director of the African American Leadership Forum (AALF), and an elected member of the Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education where he was radicalized by witnessing the many systemic inequities that hold our children back. [spp-player url=http://traffic.libsyn.com/voices4ed/28_-_Education_Post_-_Education_Reform.mp3] [spp-tweet tweet="“Smart people have been arguing about what to do with schools since 150 years ago and they're going to be arguing about it 10, 15, and 20 years from now. But the constant is that the schools are not helping kids reach their highest potential.” – Chris Stewart"]

Episode Details:

What drove Chris into getting more involved in education advocacy
Why education reform has become a bad word
The power differential between parents and teachers
How to empower parents to hold the system accountable
Is standardized testing the best way to hold schools accountable?
Why public education is not ideal for all students

Links Mentioned:

[spp-tweet tweet="“You should not be able to be elected as a mayor, a city council member, a county commissioner, a school board member without having to encounter the question: what is your specific plan for changing the educational fortunes of children in your district?” – Chris Stewart"]