Newsletter

The Blackboard Report: Inaugural Issue

I created this newsletter to address a critical gap, advocate for educational equity, and amplify the voices of those working tirelessly to improve our learning environments.

Board Members,

Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Blackboard Report! I’m Quintessa L. Williams, an Education Reporter and Journalist examining the intersection of social justice, systemic inequities, and their impact on our students, families, and communities nationwide.

I created this newsletter to bring more awareness and address a critical gap on the most pressing issues affecting Black education, advocate for educational equity, and amplify the voices of those working tirelessly to improve our learning environments. Every week, I’ll discuss the latest updates, news, and stories that highlight the landscape of Black education in America.

A special thank you to my team at Word In Black, Dr. Allison Wiltz at WEOC, Phil Lewis at Huff Post, Marlissa Collier at The Dallas Weekly, and Ashlee Banks at The Kicker, whose extensive work in telling our stories helped inspire the creation of this newsletter.

The inaugural issue of TBBR was released today to celebrate the kickoff of American Education Week. Moving forward, The Blackboard Report will be released every Wednesday on here and Substack. You can also subscribe to receive via email!

This Week On The Board

Folks across the nation are still reeling from the presidential election results, and discussions around the proposed Project 2025 education policies have raised concerns about potential impacts on curricula and school operations. Additionally, Black communities are also grappling with the recent spread of racist text messages sent post-election in multiple states, including Florida, Alabama, California, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

I spoke with a mother back home whose son also received the message. The emboldened, bigoted harassment has left many to wonder how the sender(s) knew the recipients were Black. Such troubling events speak to the ongoing challenges and discourse surrounding…