Center for Educational Equity

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-How can student board members move beyond tokenism and take on meaningful roles in decision-making?

Join our upcoming webinar to explore new research and insights presented by the S-BYE Lab!

See you all on April 27th, 2PM.

📲 Scan the QR code to attend！

🌟Meet Briana from our SBYE Lab Team!

From the classroom to research, Briana’s work has always centered on one thing: helping students find their voice.

Before coming to Teachers College, she spent four years teaching high school social studies in D.C., where she encouraged students to think critically about government, civics, and their place in it. That same passion carried into her research at UPenn, where she explored civic opportunity gaps for urban youth.

Now, as a Ph.D. student in Politics and Education at TC, Briana is part of both the DDP and MDR teams—building curriculum, working closely with students, and contributing to projects that connect research with real-world impact.

She’s especially excited about what’s ahead: growing the lab, expanding programs into more schools, and bringing this work into larger conversations through conferences.

Join us this FRIDAY for a student forum where your experiences shape the conversation!

📅 April 3
⏰ 12:00 PM
⏱️ 30 minutes

Scan the code, share your story, and be part of building a more equitable future for TC🌟

Join us this FRIDAY for a student forum where your experiences shape the conversation!

📅 April 4
⏰ 12:00 PM
⏱️ 30 minutes

Scan the code, share your story, and be part of building a more equitable future together!

What happens when school funding depends on politics?

points out a hard truth: in some states, support may come through — in others, it may not come at all.

For many schools, especially those serving the most vulnerable students, that uncertainty has real consequences.

🔗 Read more: https://wordinblack.com/2026/03/trump-dei-federal-funding-schools/

👇 What are your thoughts?

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Meet Emma 🌟

Emma is a Ph.D. student in the Politics and Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research focuses on how students with disabilities and their families advocate for greater services and rights within education systems.

Before joining CEE, Emma served as a policy advisor in Governor Evers’ administration, where she focused on K–12 education and health services. She also worked with a Wisconsin-based startup political organization dedicated to youth voter outreach on college campuses.

Now at S-BYE Labs’ Dewey Decimal Project, Emma brings a strong commitment to youth political engagement and equity in education.

As Emma puts it: “Fifty percent of success is just showing up.”

💡In a recent Chalkbeat article examining the ongoing debate over mayoral control of New York City’s public school system, our Executive Director, , was highlighted following his appointment to the city’s Panel for Educational Policy.

Reflecting on the moment, Prof. Collins shared: “It’s an honor to be able to serve the kids of our city, and in this particular moment, I welcome the opportunity to model what true democratic school governance can look like.” His remarks come as policymakers and education leaders continue to debate how the governance of the nation’s largest public school system should evolve.

As discussions around mayoral control, community participation, and accountability continue in Albany and New York City, this moment raises an important question: What does meaningful democratic governance look like in public education?

🔗 Read the full story: https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2026/03/10/mamdani-albany-mayoral-control-school-governance-fight/

Let’s discuss! Share your thoughts below. 👇

📍RJ Wicks is a second-year master’s student in the Education Policy program at Teachers College, Columbia University. As a Zankel Fellow with the S-BYE Lab, he supports curriculum design and program implementation for the Making Democracy Real initiative, which promotes civic learning and democratic decision-making for middle school students.

RJ has also conducted research with the National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools, and Teaching (NCREST) on international education and equity-focused reforms. On campus, he serves as an Administrative Fellow for Graduate Student Life & Development and a Community Assistant with the Office of Residential Services, supporting student engagement and campus life.

RJ earned his B.A. in Political Science from Pepperdine University, where he was a Posse Scholar and completed five study abroad programs, including an experience in Fiji. During this time, he also received a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and a Certificate in Conflict Management.

Looking ahead, RJ hopes to teach in Los Angeles and internationally, continuing his commitment to equitable education and civic learning.

📌 Motto: “At the end of the day, the day’s gonna end.”

In a recent K12 Dive report examining major legal and policy trends to watch in 2026, our Executive Director, , was quoted offering insight into how shifting federal priorities may impact school districts.
He notes that districts may need to prepare for reduced federal support while anticipating intensified enforcement around Title VI and Title IX — signaling a potentially heightened regulatory landscape in the year ahead.

As Dr. Collins adds, “I think the nozzle on the gas is going to change to an even higher level this upcoming year.”
This raises an important question: How should districts navigate evolving federal oversight while continuing to serve diverse student communities?

Read the full story here: [https://www.k12dive.com/news/4-education-legal-and-policy-trends-to-watch-in-2026/810150/ ]

Let’s discuss. Share your thoughts below.

📍 Shawn Filer is an Innovative Associate at the Center for Educational Equity (CEE), where he works at the intersection of technology, school policy, and community engagement. At CEE, Shawn supports projects that strengthen student voice, expand civic learning, and help districts build more responsive decision-making systems.

Shawn joined the Lab after completing graduate work in education policy — a path shaped by his earlier career in engineering, management consulting, and AI strategy. He has long been interested in using technical tools for public good, and CEE offered the opportunity to bring those skills directly into K–12 systems.

What inspires much of Shawn’s work is the belief that technology should amplify community voice, not complicate it. In projects like OUTREACH and Making Democracy Real, he focuses on designing smoother, more equitable ways for schools to listen to students and families.

Before joining CEE, Shawn worked across industries including finance, AI, and digital innovation. These experiences shaped his interest in how emerging technologies — when used thoughtfully — can support creativity, critical thinking, and meaningful participation in schools.

Outside of work, Shawn keeps a vibrant New York City routine — gardening as soon as spring arrives 🌱, traveling often ✈️, exploring jazz and live music 🎷, spending time with friends who perform on stage 🎭, and trying every kind of cuisine the city has to offer (especially Chinese, Southeast Asian, and Caribbean food 🍜).

We’re grateful for the energy, technical insight, and creativity Shawn brings to the Lab.

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