Dereke Townsend

What is a quote or saying you live by?
“It’s beauty in the struggle, ugliness in the success”
Why did you apply to become a League Leader?
I applied to be a League Leader in large part because of this amazing space that I can help create. It connects higher education policy with those who are within education currently and creates an amazing conversation on various topics that I cannot wait to get into.
What is your superpower?
My superpower is the ability to conduct music in a way that others can hear or understand on their own. It connects to everyone differently and it conducts everything going around like a conductor managing an opera. I plan on using it to be a very understanding, consistent, and reliable person who pushes the initiative, and keeps everything on track.
What is one thing you hope the EmpowerED Network accomplishes this year?
I hope that I can be a part of a great cast of individuals, which has been accomplished! More so, I hope to be a part of a great cast of individuals that end up actually forming some action plan for schools.
How do you hope to grow as a leader as a result of being a League Leader?
I hope that I gain more knowledge of various situations that I could be oblivious to. I hope that I gain knowledge on other’s hardships. I hope these things because I envision growth in my teaching area. I see myself absorbing everything that I have learned here to pass it on to the next person.
Why should students join the EmpowerED Network?
Students should join to get their voices heard. Countless peers and past classmates that have complained too many times that they feel they do not have any say so in regards to their education. I say go find that voice. There is always a channel or a stream that you can find and the EmpowerED Network is definitely that place!