In This Vision of Education, Students Are Empowered to Love Learning and Themselves
The founder of a charter school slated to open in 2023 in southeast Atlanta aims to make school a welcoming place for students and the community.
In This Vision of Education, Students Are Empowered to Love Learning and Themselves
The founder of a charter school slated to open in 2023 in southeast Atlanta aims to make school a welcoming place for students and the community.
June 17, 2022
Managing Director, Film + Video Projects
Senior Editor, One Day Digital
View transcript
Ebony: Start our strategic planning process. So we are in the middle of finalizing the vision and goals surrounding the student experience.
Teacher 1: When I first met her, I just knew that she had a vision. I said, this should have happened a long time ago. You know this is something that our Black children need. I've been a teacher for 13 years now, and it's not in the curriculum at all. It's something that the school system is not doing, and you have to address the whole child in order to be successful.
Teacher 2: I wish the PEACE [Academy] had been around when my kids were coming up. I'm moving all over metro Atlanta, trying to put them in the best schools. My son definitely could have benefited from a PEACE [Academy].
Ebony: What brought you to this point in your career and wanting to apply?
Interviewee: A lot of the reason I've been speaking different opportunities is because of the, the difficulties I've been facing as a queer person.
Ebony: Mhm.
Interviewee: It doesn't. Not feeling as safe as I would like to feel in my place of employment.
Ebony: When we say that we are making sure that we honor our students' identities that is inclusive of all of the identities that they bring into the school. One of my favorite quotes is If you're here to help me, you're wasting your time. But if you're here because your liberation is bound up in mine, then let's work together. And so neither one of us can achieve, you know, the vision we're all in at achieving it.
Interviewee: So, you know, even if I don't make it all the way to the end. I just want to say that I love what you're doing. And I think that this is a school that's really needed. So I just want to throw that out there. But you're doing an amazing job.
Ebony: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I deeply appreciate that. Everyone I talk to, when I tell them the mission and vision of PEACE [Academy], they express this is what we needed. This is what I wanted for my child, when my child entered school. Now they're 17. But I wish this school was around.
Ebony [at home]: Good morning. Good morning, Kingston. It’s time to get up.
[Affirmations]
Kingston: I am loved.
Ebony: I am loved.
Kingston: I am strong.
Ebony: I am strong.
Kingston: I am smart.
Ebony: I am smart.
Kingston: I am beautiful inside and out.
Ebony: I am beautiful inside and out.
Kingston: God made me in his image.
Ebony: God made me in his image.
Kingston: And I could do anything aligned to my purpose.
Ebony: And I could do anything aligned to my purpose.
Ebony: Kingston Brown is a thriving six-year-old. He currently goes to a neighborhood charter school, and he will be attending PEACE Academy.
Let me see. Okay, you look like a snack! You look like a snack.
Kingston: And please don't eat me.
Ebony: When I think about the possibilities of what PEACE will provide for all of its students, that is 100 percent what I wanted for my son. Make sure you get your watch and your wallet. Okay?
Aisha: I just made Kingston's lunch. Now, I'm actually making lunch for Ebony because she'll be out today. She doesn't eat a lot because she's literally doing a million things, a million calls. And so oftentimes I'll make her something just so she can snack, so she can just keep going for the day.
Ebony: Thank you for making my lunch.
Aisha: You’re welcome.
I like to think of my role as supporting you, just, you know, making sure that she has everything she needs, always checking in, even if it's just a hug. Cause some days are harder than others. And, you know, also just being a platform for her to troubleshoot or brainstorm some different ideas from my perspective.
I’m setting your book bag here and told at the front door.
Kingston: Okay.
Ebony: I wanted my son to excel academically. I want him to be affirmed in his Blackness. I wanted him to experience joy. And I want him to say, I love going to school.
Are you gonna have a good day at school today?
Kingston: Yes.
Ebony: You going to be a leader?
Kingston: Yes.
[Kingston singing]: "I'm a strong one. I'm not nervous. I'm as tough as the crust of the earth is. I move mountains. I moved churches, And I glow because I know I'm worth it.”
Ebony: You know, I'm proud of you, right?
Kingston: Yes.
Ebony: Why am I proud of you? You're one of the best little human beings I know.
Southeast Atlanta is a very diverse community. It’s a rich community. We want this to be a community school. We have our community members, our board members, our families leading the way for so much of the work. We want to make sure that the community feels like this is theirs. And that it is an asset to the community. We're opening this August. Black-led school. Tuition-free public charter school and we are enrolling grades K through third grade this year. Problem-based learning. We are also specializing in cultural immersion. And I'll probably be over there the next two or three weeks to introduce myself and the team. We'll be here this August. Thank you. Nice to meet you. Have a good one.
So we are in front of PEACE Academy. This is the plaza that we're in. 1954 Candler Road. Phase one renovation will kind of stop right where that panel is and go back. Phase two will be the additional 22,000 square feet and that will get us through our full renovation.
So, Hank, what do we expect when we go in?
Hank: So you're going to see a lot of new walls going up, a lot of electrical and HVAC over your heads. You’re gonna see plumbing lines.
Ebony: I've been a part of every decision with the renovation. I've been a part of every conversation to get the lease and just to be in a space where we will open these doors and it's from conception. It's powerful.
Hank: You walk in. This is a big open space right here where everybody will come in. And that's our main doors into your school.
Ebony: This is pretty big as well for... this is a wellness room. So breastfeeding. You just need to be alone. This'll be just one person area.
Hank: Your office is over here.
Ebony: Okay. So this is my office. Okay.
This building is designed to set up our students for success. We deeply believe in making sure that our students feel loved and cared for, and that they feel like they can be themselves within the building.
I think you can. You could do anything you put your mind to.
Thinking about the journey to getting here, I, I'm brought to tears because of how hard it has taken to get here, and how much work every member of our team has done to get us to this point. Just so many people who have been a part of getting our facility open and in place for our babies to walk through is just powerful.
My theory of leadership is that I can impact education through creating a school like PEACE [Academy] that affirms every child, that provides rigorous academics, and that helps every student have a holistic understanding of the world and their impact in it.
Teacher 1: When I first met her, I just knew that she had a vision. I said, this should have happened a long time ago. You know this is something that our Black children need. I've been a teacher for 13 years now, and it's not in the curriculum at all. It's something that the school system is not doing, and you have to address the whole child in order to be successful.
Teacher 2: I wish the PEACE [Academy] had been around when my kids were coming up. I'm moving all over metro Atlanta, trying to put them in the best schools. My son definitely could have benefited from a PEACE [Academy].
Ebony: What brought you to this point in your career and wanting to apply?
Interviewee: A lot of the reason I've been speaking different opportunities is because of the, the difficulties I've been facing as a queer person.
Ebony: Mhm.
Interviewee: It doesn't. Not feeling as safe as I would like to feel in my place of employment.
Ebony: When we say that we are making sure that we honor our students' identities that is inclusive of all of the identities that they bring into the school. One of my favorite quotes is If you're here to help me, you're wasting your time. But if you're here because your liberation is bound up in mine, then let's work together. And so neither one of us can achieve, you know, the vision we're all in at achieving it.
Interviewee: So, you know, even if I don't make it all the way to the end. I just want to say that I love what you're doing. And I think that this is a school that's really needed. So I just want to throw that out there. But you're doing an amazing job.
Ebony: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I deeply appreciate that. Everyone I talk to, when I tell them the mission and vision of PEACE [Academy], they express this is what we needed. This is what I wanted for my child, when my child entered school. Now they're 17. But I wish this school was around.
Ebony [at home]: Good morning. Good morning, Kingston. It’s time to get up.
[Affirmations]
Kingston: I am loved.
Ebony: I am loved.
Kingston: I am strong.
Ebony: I am strong.
Kingston: I am smart.
Ebony: I am smart.
Kingston: I am beautiful inside and out.
Ebony: I am beautiful inside and out.
Kingston: God made me in his image.
Ebony: God made me in his image.
Kingston: And I could do anything aligned to my purpose.
Ebony: And I could do anything aligned to my purpose.
Ebony: Kingston Brown is a thriving six-year-old. He currently goes to a neighborhood charter school, and he will be attending PEACE Academy.
Let me see. Okay, you look like a snack! You look like a snack.
Kingston: And please don't eat me.
Ebony: When I think about the possibilities of what PEACE will provide for all of its students, that is 100 percent what I wanted for my son. Make sure you get your watch and your wallet. Okay?
Aisha: I just made Kingston's lunch. Now, I'm actually making lunch for Ebony because she'll be out today. She doesn't eat a lot because she's literally doing a million things, a million calls. And so oftentimes I'll make her something just so she can snack, so she can just keep going for the day.
Ebony: Thank you for making my lunch.
Aisha: You’re welcome.
I like to think of my role as supporting you, just, you know, making sure that she has everything she needs, always checking in, even if it's just a hug. Cause some days are harder than others. And, you know, also just being a platform for her to troubleshoot or brainstorm some different ideas from my perspective.
I’m setting your book bag here and told at the front door.
Kingston: Okay.
Ebony: I wanted my son to excel academically. I want him to be affirmed in his Blackness. I wanted him to experience joy. And I want him to say, I love going to school.
Are you gonna have a good day at school today?
Kingston: Yes.
Ebony: You going to be a leader?
Kingston: Yes.
[Kingston singing]: "I'm a strong one. I'm not nervous. I'm as tough as the crust of the earth is. I move mountains. I moved churches, And I glow because I know I'm worth it.”
Ebony: You know, I'm proud of you, right?
Kingston: Yes.
Ebony: Why am I proud of you? You're one of the best little human beings I know.
Southeast Atlanta is a very diverse community. It’s a rich community. We want this to be a community school. We have our community members, our board members, our families leading the way for so much of the work. We want to make sure that the community feels like this is theirs. And that it is an asset to the community. We're opening this August. Black-led school. Tuition-free public charter school and we are enrolling grades K through third grade this year. Problem-based learning. We are also specializing in cultural immersion. And I'll probably be over there the next two or three weeks to introduce myself and the team. We'll be here this August. Thank you. Nice to meet you. Have a good one.
So we are in front of PEACE Academy. This is the plaza that we're in. 1954 Candler Road. Phase one renovation will kind of stop right where that panel is and go back. Phase two will be the additional 22,000 square feet and that will get us through our full renovation.
So, Hank, what do we expect when we go in?
Hank: So you're going to see a lot of new walls going up, a lot of electrical and HVAC over your heads. You’re gonna see plumbing lines.
Ebony: I've been a part of every decision with the renovation. I've been a part of every conversation to get the lease and just to be in a space where we will open these doors and it's from conception. It's powerful.
Hank: You walk in. This is a big open space right here where everybody will come in. And that's our main doors into your school.
Ebony: This is pretty big as well for... this is a wellness room. So breastfeeding. You just need to be alone. This'll be just one person area.
Hank: Your office is over here.
Ebony: Okay. So this is my office. Okay.
This building is designed to set up our students for success. We deeply believe in making sure that our students feel loved and cared for, and that they feel like they can be themselves within the building.
I think you can. You could do anything you put your mind to.
Thinking about the journey to getting here, I, I'm brought to tears because of how hard it has taken to get here, and how much work every member of our team has done to get us to this point. Just so many people who have been a part of getting our facility open and in place for our babies to walk through is just powerful.
My theory of leadership is that I can impact education through creating a school like PEACE [Academy] that affirms every child, that provides rigorous academics, and that helps every student have a holistic understanding of the world and their impact in it.
