Envision Academy teacher Ray’Von Jones shares how her students fill her with a sense of HOPE!
“Shawn Ginwright – he was speaking at teaching for social justice event a few years ago. He said, “…a lot of people think that Justice is just the absence of Oppression. But you have to have a vision for where you want to go in order to instill hope.” For me, part of having hope is identifying problems. Then, identify solutions. If you have a vision, you have a place to go. Otherwise, sometimes when I just look around right now, it’s sad. And, I feel hopeful when I’m with my students. They’re in a place that I wish so many more adults were in. Vulnerability, openness, sharing. Plus, so many students out here in Oakland have this orientation toward Justice that, if all the leaders in this country had, things would be better. So I hope that things are different when they’re older, and I hope that I would have had a part in preparing them for that.”
Visit Teachers of Oakland on Facebookfor the full story on Ray’Von and more teacher profiles!