{"id":6959,"date":"2023-05-22T08:00:31","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T13:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everylearnereverywhere.org\/?p=6959"},"modified":"2023-05-22T07:54:56","modified_gmt":"2023-05-22T12:54:56","slug":"an-aspiring-leader-in-equitable-educational-policy-is-exploring-multiple-areas-of-the-education-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everylearnereverywhere.org\/es\/blog\/an-aspiring-leader-in-equitable-educational-policy-is-exploring-multiple-areas-of-the-education-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"An Aspiring Leader in Equitable Educational Policy Is Exploring Multiple Areas of the Education Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier in her studies, Emma Sullivan, a junior at Georgia State University, imagined a career leading to school principal, but she now hopes to impact the national education policy. She feels the experience she gained from her education major, as well as her work in the classroom will inform her in crafting equitable educational policies to better serve communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe main reason I chose this major was to study the \u2018ins and outs\u2019 of the education field,\u201d Sullivan says. \u201cSo many of our policy makers do not have a background in classroom experience. As someone who wants to go into education policy, I need to have a deep understanding of how a classroom runs and what teachers and students need, particularly marginalized students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Early passion for student mentorship and equitable education<\/h2>\n

For Sullivan, a Spring 2023 Every Learner Everywhere\u00ae student intern, interest in educational equity began at a young age. \u201cI grew up in a Latino\/a dominant area of New England just outside of Boston,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe area is considered a sanctuary city. A lot of students my age did not pursue higher education due to a lack of accessibility and resources. I did not have a lot of mentorship when I was applying to colleges. I try to reflect on my personal experience and be the mentor I wish I had.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sullivan earned a full scholarship to Georgia State as a Goizueta Scholar, funded through the Goizueta Endowment and coordinated through Latinx Student Services and Outreach (LASSO<\/a>), which promotes Latino student achievement in higher education. While at Georgia State, Sullivan has worked as a substitute teacher and served as a mentor for high-school students applying to college in Atlanta schools through the Latino Leadership Initiative.<\/p>\n

Supporting teachers<\/h2>\n

Prior to her Every Learner internship, Sullivan interned with Future Leaders in Action<\/a> as a social media fellow where she partnered with Almost Fun<\/a>, an organization that focuses on increasing interest in math learning for marginalized students.<\/p>\n

Sullivan managed Almost Fun\u2019s social media account and led an initiative called \u201cClear the List\u201d to help teachers pay for school supplies. Teachers often receive little funding for their classroom materials and end up paying out of pocket. Sullivan also presented her work with Almost Fun at the Future Leaders in Action Showcase to founders, stakeholders, and non-profit professionals at the completion of her internship.<\/p>\n