The Center One Foundation

What is the biggest operational challenge that you will face in the upcoming year? Our biggest challenge will be covering funding gaps and making sure our cash flow is steady.

How is technology changing the classroom experience? From what I have observed access to the internet and being able to pull examples in real time for students helps make things concrete for students.

What challenges are educators currently facing post-pandemic? I am not sure as I am not in the classroom.

How do you support student engagement and well-being? Our programming and conversations with students help them understand how to deal with difficulties from classes, personality clashes and the reason why certain classes are taken. Helping them understand these things focuses their mind for classes and reduces issues within the classes.

What role does equity play in your educational approach? It is the foundation of why The Center One Foundation was created. We say that access to higher education is equal but it isn’t fair. Some people can pay for a private college or career coach which will give them an advantage that youth who can’t afford a private coach will not have access to, but the same knowledge is still accessible, if the youth knows where to look. We stand in the gap as a bridge for those who can’t afford the private coach.

How are you preparing students for a rapidly changing world? first thing is we teach students that life does not move backwards so don’t make back up plans and be ok to pivot. We also let them know life doesn’t move in a straight line which helps them release a ridged view of how life or their careers to should move. We also have conversations that have them look at systems or their interests with the idea of making it better. Lastly, we show them that although technology is changing rapidly human behavior remains very much the same so they do not have to try to figure out what the next thing humans will do.

Can you share an initiative that has made a real impact? Our HBCU College fair has seen students receive scholarships and acceptance letter into college. Many students are attending a college or university that come to the college fair.

What’s your vision for the future of education? Education needs to return to the pedagogy of educating a well rounded citizen. The emphasis in the arts and humanities will need to be as strong as the emphasis on math and reading. I would also like to see k-5 be technology free and return to analogue teaching so students can have a strong foundation. computers are supposed to be a tool to help communicate more efficient.