Two weeks ago, I sent my first child off to college.
To say it’s been an adjustment is an understatement. I didn’t realize how deeply I would grieve not picking up his cheese wrappers, and smelly soccer cleats, or giving him a nightly hug. The silence at home is unnerving – I miss hearing him shout, “Mom, are you home?” and the chaos of soccer boys rummaging through the kitchen. And the bodily heartache around the passing of time or that our family of four is now a family of three.
This transition has given me time to reflect on my immense gratitude for all those who have supported my son, Tommy, through his journey—his coaches, teachers, and school administrators. They’ve taught him about respect, hard work, curiosity, teamwork, and most importantly, love. Tommy would not be the person he is today without their support.
That’s why this week's Cracking Open podcast guest, Rashid Davis, holds a special place in my heart. Rashid is the founding principal of Pathways in Technology Early High School (P-TECH) and embodies the power of education and love.
"We only have a short shelf life, a moment to make an impact. I was raised in the poorest district in the Bronx, so I saw inequities, but I saw love and understanding, so I lead with love.” ~ Rashid Davis
Rashid has dedicated his life to improving education and uplifting humanity. P-TECH, a groundbreaking model that spans grades 9-14, provides a pathway from high school to college and a career in industry. The first P-TECH school in Brooklyn partners with New York City College of Technology and IBM.
In 2013, P-TECH was highlighted by President Obama in the State of the Union and received a visit from him in October of that year. As of August 2021, P-TECH has expanded to 28 countries with over 200 school and college partners and more than 600 industry partners.
In 2016, Rashid was honored as a Legendary School Leader by the Black Caucus of CSA and Administrators and received proclamations from the City Council of New York, the State Assembly, and various Senate Districts. He was also named to City and State’s 2016 “Brooklyn Borough 50,” recognizing influential leaders in Brooklyn.
In this episode, Rashid shares his journey from growing up in the Bronx with a deep passion for education to obtaining multiple master’s degrees and dedicating his career to school development. He shares his invaluable wisdom, inspiring story, and open-hearted approach. Rashid imparts a powerful lesson: If you can open your heart and mind, you will see that everything is education. He emphasizes: “Love people the way that they know and experience love. And so, it really becomes a microcosm of society. And meet people where they are. And when I say love, it's not always the love that feels good, sometimes you have to do things for people to protect them.”
As we kick off a new back-to-school season, Rashid helps remind us of the importance of teachers and educators. I hold deep gratitude for individuals like Rashid who have played such a pivotal and positive role in the educational and growth journeys of so many children, including my son.
Love,
Molly
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