What we do: EJA creates high quality school board governance leadership by recruiting local leaders and preparing them to lead school systems. In 2022, we launched EJA to help support underrepresented and new school board members - women, people of color, LGBTQ, young people and first-generation Californians - to become the next generation of school leaders.
Our members are trained in policy, budgeting, communications, and community organizing through facilitated seminars, coaching, retreats and peer learning communities. We recruit, train, and support outstanding school board leaders who reflect the diversity of their community, and who create sustainable, equitable change.
Learn more at: https://www.edjusticeacademy.org/
Through EJA, participants have the opportunity to improve their abilities and grow their network to enact change.
Governance: School boards are a crucial under-invested piece of improving education systems and capable boards can create more just and resilient schools. This includes addressing equity issues, advocating for evidence-based policy making, building strong school governance, and providing resources and support for school board members.
Justice: EJA defines educational justice as the commitment to and practice of examining, confronting, and disrupting the historical injustices and inequitable practices that prevent schools from providing high quality learning experiences and outcomes for all students. We envision schools that create inclusive, culturally-relevant, and anti-racist environments for everyone. Each community has their own narrative, story and history - we teach local leaders to explore theirs to better understand what change their community needs.
Democracy: School boards are the largest piece of our democracy. They were formed in the belief that education should be a local project that reflects the needs and aspirations of each individual community. Our democracy relies on representative and capable local school boards to ensure that our next generation is prepared to be happy, healthy, and courageous citizens.
Impact: Our graduates learn how to make an impact. Through 10 weeks of constantly updated curriculum, we train school board leaders to leverage the specific powers of the school board to move schools forward towards educational justice. We don’t choose sides, we choose children.
Community: Through EJA, participants build a community of peers who are making an impact in their own districts across the state. EJA’s unique recruitment model helps us find leaders who are already deeply rooted in the community and know how to leverage its unique strengths and where improvement is needed.
We encourage you to apply** if you:
- Are passionate about and have a demonstrated commitment to educational justice that aims to build liberatory futures for traditionally marginalized students
- Have experience in schools, including, but not limited to: teaching, mentoring, and/or advocating for your own, or other, students’ educational needs, participating in educational work groups, task forces, campaigns etc
- Are a local leader (in whichever way you define it) within your community including already serving on a school board or local governance committee (LCAP, School Site, PTA, LPAC, ELAC)
- Have an interest in running for school board and are qualified to run for school board in the state of California (if you have questions about your eligibility please email briana@edjusticeacademy.org)
- Have been nominated by your peers to participate in EJA (you do not have to be nominated in order to apply)
Applications** will be graded on a rubric based on these 6 characteristics:
Communal Learner: A willingness to learn collaboratively and adapt to new perspectives and ideas.
Lived Experience: Direct personal experience with the challenges faced by Black, Latine, Native, AAPI, LGBT+, Low-Income, Immigrant and other marginalized communities in public schools.
Commitment to Community Service: A track record of active involvement in community service initiatives in faith, non-profit, organizing, advocacy, or at the grassroots level.
District Experience: Has experience leading district work or work addressing student outcomes in the community. Has ties and commitment to specific districts.
Understanding of Local Issues: Knowledge and awareness of issues specific to the local district, demonstrating a deep connection to the community, either as alum or current community member.
Educational Justice Focus: A commitment to promoting and advancing values of educational justice.
