Ms. Afia Lewis, a sixth grade math teacher at Ardmore Avenue Elementary School, will travel to Washington D.C. on Monday, May 8, 2023 to attend a reception in celebration of Black Educators across the country. The event is hosted by the U.S. Department of Education and will also include the Center for Black Educator Development and the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans.

Ms. Lewis was one of 25 educators selected nationally to be a part of the 2023-26 cohort of the National Education Association program of Leaders for Just Schools. This is a leadership development program that focuses on the advancement of equitable outcomes for students and the policies that affect them. Ms. Lewis will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota to study in person this summer.

Lastly, Ms. Lewis will continue her advocacy in education as she continues her work with TeachPlus as a 2023-24 CEO Teacher Cabinet member. The Cabinet, a highly selective program for Teach Plus alumni, works directly with Teach Plus CEO Kira Orange Jones to inform the organization’s thinking and strategy on issues and policies that Teach Plus teachers focus on in their advocacy.