The Trials of Critical Race Theory | CBS Reports
As America reckons with systemic racism, schools are responding by expanding diversity and inclusion efforts. But as the efforts have become fused with a decades-old legal concept known as critical race theory, some parents and conservative activists are fighting back. A new episode of CBS Reports' Reverb series examines the backlash to so-called critical race theory in schools and the impact on students and teachers. Watch the video
How the CRT debate and the culture wars impact students in Tennessee
Across the country, new laws targeting critical race theory and debated books are influencing the small but pivotal decisions educators make every day: how to answer a student’s question, what texts to read as a class, how to prepare for a lesson. Watch the video
‘Brave spaces’ needed: How schools can foster meaningful conversations after the 2020 election
Tennessee students and educators gathered virtually to brainstorm how schools can foster meaningful classroom conversations in the wake of the most divisive presidential election in modern U.S. history. The event was hosted by Chalkbeat and The Education Trust in Tennessee on Dec. 14. Watch the video
Student Blog: How the Pandemic Helped Me Find Purpose
At the beginning of the pandemic, I felt clueless and trapped, knowing that I would be spending weeks, and now months, stuck at home with my family. I’d been independent for three years while attending the University of Tennessee, and suddenly, I had to revert to how things were before I moved away for college. I am from a small rural town called Brownsville that’s four hours outside of Memphis. Read the full story
The Education Trust in Tennessee’s EmpowerEd Student William Collins Performs Deep River
William Collins is a student at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee where he is a Fisk Jubilee Singer. In this video, he performs the song “Deep River” as part of The Education Trust’s virtual conference, “Education Equity in the COVID-19 Era” on Oct. 14, 2020. William is a student leader with The Education Trust in Tennessee’s EmpowerEd (https://empoweredtn.org/), a storytelling series focused on capturing the experiences of underrepresented students during the COVID-19 crisis. Watch the video
Stories from Tennessee during an uncertain fall semester
Much has changed since COVID-19 disrupted the spring semester for students around the nation. Much has also stayed the same. Tennessee students are embarking on yet another uncertain time of schooling – as their state is one of the first in the nation to begin a brick-and-mortar reopening of its schools. While some students in rural counties are preparing for days back in a school building, others in Tennessee’s largest school districts are settling into another season of online learning. Watch the video
College corner: Tennessee students discuss higher ed amid COVID-19
The coronavirus has heightened inequities within higher education, disrupted campus life, and put a financial strain on many families. As the fall semester gets started, we want to hear directly from students. Chalkbeat Tennessee and The Education Trust in Tennessee brought together college students to share their thoughts at this uncertain moment. Watch the video
Ommay Farah | Next Door Neighbors | NPT
Ommay Farah, a Pakistani-American high school student in Nashville, Tennessee, confronts the challenges of pursuing her educational goals while learning remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic. Produced in partnerships with The Education Trust in Tennessee. Watch the video
Johanna Olvera: Valedictorian of Freedom Preparatory Academy
We wanted to give Memphis valedictorians a stage to share their speeches with the world as graduation ceremonies across the city and nation were disrupted due to COVID-19. Johanna Olvera is the 2020 valedictorian at Freedom Preparatory Academy. Watch the video
Ruby Aguilar | Next Door Neighbors | NPT
Ruby Aguilar, a college student studying English education in Nashville, TN, reflects on the needs of marginalized students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Produced in partnership with The Education Trust in Tennessee. Watch the video
