Teacher, Navigator Program
The women in my life have been a huge inspiration for me. Growing up, I watched my mom achieve her dreams. She taught me that I, too, could be anything that I wanted to be. Because of her, I feel like I am important in the universe.
Editor in Chief, TIME for Kids
My editor at the New York Times gave me more responsibility and more of a voice than anyone rightfully should have at my age.
Science teacher, Isenberg Elementary School
When motivational speaker Dr. Mackie was talking, I felt like he was talking to me and my experience. I decided that I wanted to be a different teacher. I wanted to be alive for my students. If I’m alive and engaged, my students are alive and engaged.
President Emerita, Spelman College
I became acquainted with the chair of the Black Studies department who asked me if I was interested in teaching a course on “Education and the Black Child” on a part-time basis.
Co-Executive Director, Big Picture Learning
My parents shaped my foundation and instilled in me not only that working hard was rewarding, but that working hard for, and with, the people in your community was not a burden, but a privilege.
Timothy E. Wirth Professor, Learning Technologies, Harvard
Dwight Allen modeled many skills and beliefs for me—to this day I try to encourage others to transform education.
Executive Director, Edutopia
John, someone who did not have to support me, enabled and empowered me in my work.
President and CEO, Aspen Institute
The most important people in my life have been those I’ve taught, ranging from El Salvadorian families that fled death squads to students in the maximum security unit of D.C.’s now-closed Lorton Reformatory.
Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District
That really hard feedback, that I didn’t ask for, ultimately changed the way I engaged with people from then on. Instead of just engaging with other educators, I solicited feedback from even more community members.
President, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The lessons that Robert Meyerhoff has taught me over these years have made all the difference because he became a champion for me, my work, and the university. I say a champion rather than a mentor because a mentor will give you advice, but a champion will knock down doors for you.
Retired NFL running back
A close family friend, Dr. Kurt Williams, supported me and my dreams. It didn’t matter if I won or lost or messed up, he always said, “Whatever Jamaal needs, no matter how much.”
President of James Dallas & Associates
I attribute my success to Mike Blackwell. He easily could have said “Our whole strategy is based on this person, and I have somebody who doesn’t know strategy. So let’s find someone else.” But instead, he gave me an opportunity to learn and to put that learning into practice.
Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction
I talk to aspiring principals about how important it is to be great where you are and build a relationship with your principal so that they can speak directly to your skills.
Executive Director, D.C. State Board of Education
Ultimately, the connection that we formed changed me a lot in terms of how I view students that come from different places. When I first started this work in education I came from a sense of “all students can succeed.” But that’s not necessarily true if you don’t have the same access to opportunities as others do.
CEO, Project Tomorrow
What Annexis said to me has become the North Star for all my work since then. She showed me how critical a student’s point-of-view is, and this became the genesis of Speak Up.
Founder and CEO, Reconstruction
There are times that it costs us so little to do things that mean a lot to people who are coming up along the way.
President and CEO, New Tech Network
My teacher, Ruth Slade, was the first adult who wasn’t related to me or obliged to me, but still took a chance on me—and I felt a deep obligation to do a good job.
Superintendent, Meriden Public Schools
My mentor told me that I had the natural ability to connect with people, especially those children who felt hopeless and marginalized by our education system.
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, EMPath
Throughout my life, it’s been very clear to me that the relationships that become very consequential are those with people in authority who are highly networked and connect you to their friends with access to other resources.
Creative Strategy Manager, Education + Diversity, Google
When I was a teacher, my instructional coach Bethany taught me how to own the space. There are plenty of folks who have connected me to new jobs or speaking opportunities, but Bethany gave me faith in myself.
Distinguished Fellow, Christensen Institute
People have paved the way for me in life. I got to know Linda Lorimer, the former secretary of Yale, when I was a reporter at the Yale Daily News. She took an interest in me, and set in motion a series of introductions that led me to my career path today.
SVP of workforce strategies, Strada Education Network
I had a literature professor in college who taught me something that I practice every single day—that nothing that I write is ever really finished. It was hugely formative for someone who now makes a living by writing.
Founder, Turnaround for Children
Dr. Jack Schoenholtz, became a crucial support and mentor over the past 30 years, as well as during the 10 years I was his patient. I went to him as a kid who felt very ashamed, very hidden, and I can still remember being in his office and having him tell me, “You are a pearl in an oyster.”
President, Southern New Hampshire University
My professor, Dr. Helen Heinneman, and Father Joe at Boston College, didn’t just redirect my life—they filled in whole blanks of white space I wasn’t even seeing on the page and colored it in for me.
Distinguished Professor of Education, UCLA
Martin’s mentorship opened doors for me that I never knew existed, but it was my older brother’s mentor who really set the path for me and my siblings. A lot of times, that’s the way it works in families: you educate one and then all benefit.
Co-Founder, Marzano Resources
I don’t know why Mrs. Conklin singled me out and supported me, but I started to believe that I actually could be really good at things and that I was smart and talented.
Vice Provost, Continuum College, University of Washington
Learning something new is always difficult and sometimes, even painful. Overcoming fear of that discomfort is the first step to an open mind, but it isn’t easy without support.
President, Western Governors University (WGU)
You never know which connection will provide doors to opportunity, so you have to be deliberate in contributing some time and effort to each and see.
Youth Ambassador, Special Olympics North America
I want to help lift others out of loneliness and despair the way Ms. Stevenson lifted me.
Chairman of the Board, Special Olympics
My mentor taught me that education is not primarily about information, but about inspiration. It’s about relationships.
Chief Learning Officer, KnowledgeWorks
I really had no idea what I was doing when I started, but everyone from my coach to that school principal was willing to take a chance on me, and it led me to where I am today.
