Urban Scholar Allison Hertz

Most recently, Allison Hertz worked to help connect disadvantaged public elementary schools in Washington D.C. with much needed services in the community through Communities In Schools of the Nation's Capital. Although Hertz's background is not in teaching, she shares a deep commitment to supporting urban schools. "Even though there are countless obstacles confronting today's urban schools, I firmly believe that parents and community members can have a profound impact on meeting the needs of children if schools engage them in the right way," she says.

Why did you choose a career in education?
As a tutor in the New Haven [Conn.] Public Schools during college, I witnessed the deep-seated inequalities that exist in America's contemporary public school system. Coupled with a school reform seminar that I took my sophomore year, my volunteer experiences convinced me to enter the field of education reform in order to provide children with the opportunities they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Why did you choose HGSE?
I realized early on that the Harvard Graduate School of Education is deeply committed to tackling some of the most challenging dilemmas within today's troubled educational landscape. Not only was I struck by the diverse research interests of HGSE's professors, but I was also impressed by the valuable work that many professors undertake in the field while teaching at Harvard. For instance, I was particularly intrigued by [Lecturer] Karen Mapp's expertise in the family and community engagement arena. Her research and fieldwork aligned closely with my own professional experiences and goals.

What would you change about education today?
Research demonstrates that teachers are the most important factor impacting student achievement. With this in mind, I would call on our nation's universities to do more to attract their most talented and ambitious students into the teaching profession.

What do you plan to do after HGSE?
I am applying to be in the Education Pioneers 2010 Summer Fellowship Program. Each summer, Education Pioneers provides a diverse group of graduate students with a unique opportunity to network with and learn from one other while working on a mission-critical project for an education organization. Should I be accepted into Education Pioneers, I would be thrilled to work for the Office of Family and Community Engagement in the Boston Public Schools during my summer fellowship.