Our children are our future. Education is at the heart at developing their skills and abilities and yet year after year we hear about the degrading state of our educational system. Our nation has spent trillions of dollars on failed programs that research and experts had promised would work. Achievement gaps persist, performance declines are accelerating and so it is of paramount importance that we explore novel ideas and solutions. You might not agree with many or any of the ideas below, and we certainly are not endorsing policies – our hope is just to create a space where bright, dedicated folks from the community can share their ideas – so that we can all come together and better understand each others experiences, concerns and how we might move forward together to build a brighter future.

Linda Orji

Phew, this is a good question. Hmmm, the American education system is a touchy subject for me. I dedicated Volume II of my “Cracked Concrete” series to it, which explains why it took over four years to publish—about the same amount of time it takes to complete a Phd. Research hits differently when you’re not at the mercy of a letter grade or pass/fail, you know? To answer your question, though: honestly, I’d completely overhaul the current system and redesign it with a team of creative artists, herbalists, trauma therapists, innovative thinkers, and game-changers from around the world. Read more>>

Erik Poldroo

As a former student-athlete, I faced the immense challenge of balancing academic responsibilities with the demands of athletic performance. Navigating stress and anxiety was a constant struggle, and there was little guidance on managing these pressures. This experience highlighted a critical gap in the education system: the need for more comprehensive life skills education, real-world experiences, and robust mental health support. Read more>>

Tara Nichols

I believe our educational system treats children as a one-size-fits-all. We do not use their strengths to help point them in the direction of a fulfilling or successful future career. Most of the time, we tend to shame children for their weaknesses, all signs of a dysfunctional system. Read more>>

Rebecca Smith

I believe changing the education system is a process, not an event.
What if we simply started by shifting how we engage students?
I don’t ask students, “What do you want to be (when you grow up)?”
Instead, I say, “Tell me about who you are, right now. What’s interesting to you? How are you wired?” Read more>>

Zipporah Curry

Improving the education system to better prepare students for life and career success involves several key changes:

1. Holistic Skill Development: Emphasizing not only academic subjects but also critical life skills such as communication, problem-solving, financial literacy, and emotional intelligence. Read more>>

Jeanette Marcelle

This is such a good question, thank you for asking. In the Caribbean Trinidad and Tobago to be exact, our education system is patterned after the British system so that alone will give you an idea of how ridged the system were in my days and still a bit so because in just recent times a male student was barred from attending his prom because he wore his natural hair in cornrows and the school that was built a 100 years ago said his hair did not fit the dress code. Currently, I wear my natural hair in locs that I started growing during the pandemic and I know that I will not be going back to working for anyone but myself. I said that to say that by changing the education system you will help to change individual’s mindset. Read more>>