"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be.”

Today, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words still hold powerfully true in our city. With only 19% of fourth graders considered proficient in math, and 14% of eighth graders proficient in reading, there are too many children growing up in Georgia who don’t have the opportunity to be what they ought to be.

Despite evidence that African American and Latino students from low-income backgrounds can achieve at the same levels as white students from affluent communities when provided the educational opportunities they deserve –we are still fighting a widespread culture of excuses and low-expectations for our schools and our students. They deserve more.

We have an incredible, diverse corps – more than half identify as people of color. They believe passionately in their students and work relentlessly toward the goal of student achievement. Our alumni are leading schools and working as master educators – people like Rachel Willis (Metro-Atlanta ‘04), a two-time Atlanta Public Schools elementary teacher of the year and Peter McKnight (Metro Atlanta ’02), founding principal of South Atlanta School of Law and Social Justice. They work in education, policy, law, advocacy, and in many other areas to address the challenges that impact our students.

We can all see a different version of Atlanta in front of us, within reach. After more than 10 years in the region, we’re working harder than ever to change the prospects for students here.