Urban Scholar Catherine Graham

North Andover, Mass.-native Catherine Graham came to HGSE to strengthen her leadership skills while focusing on education. After spending the past seven years in a nontraditional academic setting, the School Leadership Program seemed like the perfect fit. A former director of Project ALERTA, a partnership between the University of Massachusetts Boston and Boston Public Schools focused on improving the educational options of Latino students and English Language Learners, Graham strives for more collaboration in education. "I think the tendency of educators to only collaborate with like-minded educators leads to a lot of unnecessary and false divisions in our sector," she says.

What does it mean to you to be an Urban Scholar?
It is an unbelievable privilege. The Urban Scholar curriculum allows us the opportunity to hear presentations from an incredible group of educators, and I am able to interact with a great group of talented peers from all across HGSE. I also consider it a responsibility - because I have been given this opportunity, I feel even more committed to improving urban education. The fact is that reforming urban schools is an issue of social justice: there are too many children in cities across the U.S. who are denied the opportunity to have a high-quality education, and these inequities run strongly along lines of race and class. I believe that addressing the disparities in our urban schools is the most important step we can take towards creating a country that provides equality for all of its citizens.

What are your thoughts on teaching in an urban school today?
Urban schools give me great hope. I think they are home to some of the most committed, innovative, and passionate educators in the country. I haven't been a classroom teacher for many years, but in partnering with schools both here in Boston and in Chicago (where I lived and worked before this), I was continually inspired by many of the teachers I worked with. They inspired me both because of their ability to teach, as well as their willingness to go above and beyond what was expected in order to meet the needs of their students.

What do you plan to do after HGSE?
That remains to be seen! My goal is to work in urban education to help improve the educational opportunities available to students and families, and I am currently exploring different venues to do so. I do know I will continue to focus my efforts on working with urban students, particularly English Language Learners, here in Massachusetts.