Shavar Jeffries asks us to consider the depth of every child's genius: 'If the kids were great and amazing before we showed up, what does that say about their families and their communities?'

Recapping the Washington State Charters Schools Association Conference morning general session

WA Charters CEO Patrick d'Amelio kicked off the 2018 charter conference's opening general session with a reminder of the strides Washington's school choice movement has made toward more equitable, diverse schools in just a few short years:

“32% of Washington’s #charterschool teachers identify as people of color, compared to just 11% statewide.”
-@PatrickDAmelio at the @WA_Charters conference. #wacharters18

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018

He also reminded us that a respect for parents is a core reason why so many value school choice:

“Our parents are the experts when it comes to their kids and their communities.”@PatrickDAmelio

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018

Next we heard from Jalen Johnson, a junior at Seattle's Summit Sierra High School:

“If you’ll forgive me, I’m going to start by taking a drink of water. It is allergy season after all.” Funny start from Jalen Johnson, student speaker. But now he’s taking about hopelessness in public school a few years back as a black boy with ADHD and autism. pic.twitter.com/vTMFhEkxUy

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018

“I see myself and my black counterparts thriving at summit. That’s how it should be.”

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018

He just got a standing ovation and I’m pretending not to cry.

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018

Now @robmckenna is discussing his investment in the public #charterschool movement based on three values: innovation, inspiration, and individualization. #wacharters18 pic.twitter.com/2CSko2RgRQ

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018

He’s still not going nearly deep enough. No mention of the sinister intentions of public education in this country, and the inherent racism and classism of our system. But I appreciate it nonetheless.

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018

“Innovation can and does happen in our traditional public schools — it just doesn’t happen often enough, consistently enough, or for enough students.” -@robmckenna #wacharters18 pic.twitter.com/zvN45nzB7H

— WA Charters (@WA_Charters) April 28, 2018

#wacharters18 pic.twitter.com/7gRZQXu6i0

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018

Wow. This is a devastatingly sad story. Not what I was expecting.

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018

After high school, @shavarjeffries ended up at @DukeU. “My life was changed by the power of education,” he said.

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018

“Understand that genius precedes. These kids were great before we showed up.”
-@shavarjeffries

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018

I love @shavarjeffries tone and his message here. Pull no punches. It’s about the relentlessness of fighting for equity. Follow each strings to its end and live our your values regardless of politics. #wacharters18

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018

“We know we’re gonna have to be bold.” -@shavarjeffries #WAedu

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018

“In the work we’re here to do.. we’re not going to create the future we want for young people through timidity.” -@shavarjeffries

— Matt Halvorson (@HalvyHalvorson) April 28, 2018