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Peggy Clark’s daughter was reading before entering kindergarten. So Clark was baffled when the little girl was placed in a lower reading group — a group made up mostly of Black children, like her daughter. Concerned, Clark reached out to the teacher, but nothing changed until she spoke with the principal about her daughter’s placement.
That experience led Clark to leave her career as a hair salon owner. Nine years ago, she became a teacher and has been supporting students ever since.
“As I was going through the ordeal with her teacher, I began to wonder about what happens to children who don’t have parents who advocate on their behalf,” Clark said. “From that moment forward, I wanted to do more to ensure equity for all students.”
Today, she teaches fourth grade English language arts and social studies in the Detroit district and, in her role as a Michigan Collaborative Teacher Leader, meets with state lawmakers to discuss education policy.
Clark is among the exceptional educators featured in this month’s edition of How I Teach. If you know a teacher, counselor, paraprofessional, or administrator who is doing inspiring work, tell us about them at community@chalkbeat.org.
Thank you,
Gabrielle Birkner, features editor
gbirkner@chalkbeat.org
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How They Teach
Indiana’s Teacher of the Year has a love of travel that sparked an interest in the English language, which he cultivates in his students at Franklin Community High School.
Peggy Clark didn’t understand why her daughter was held back in second grade reading. Now, she stands up for equity for all students.
In Lorena Izzo’s entrepreneurship class at the Academy of Finance and Enterprise, her students’ business plans aim to solve problems they see around them.
Caleb Flores walked into the school gym thinking an important government official was visiting. He was speechless when he learned the real reason for the assembly.
Caleb Flores entró al gimnasio de la escuela pensando que estaba visitando un importante funcionario del gobierno. Se quedó mudo cuando se enteró del verdadero motivo de la asamblea.
First Person
Our child had four surgeries before his fifth birthday. Still, we were determined to send him to kindergarten.
Sometimes, I share my own hardships and what got me through.
My students with mental health challenges tell me they feel seen when I open up to them about my own challenges.
When I returned to school, I was determined to teach my students what I had learned about grief and loss.
David Malakai Allen said his activism was inspired by the words of Zora Neale Hurston.
Like too many Black Chicagoans, I may never know who did this.
The question gnawed at me, and my last name raised more questions than it answered.
Affinity groups provide spaces for young people to exchange cultures, share unique life experiences, and be themselves.
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