Happy Friday, Warrior Families,

Nip Rogers, an illustrator who works with Learning for Justice, created the following, giving me pause this week. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this work of art. I am sure it has been downloaded on my computer a few times, but Tuesday, it struck differently.

This passage is from A Letter from a Birmingham Jail, a letter Dr. King wrote on scraps of paper to check other ministers who were essentially complaining that he was “doing too much” and should just let the process take its natural course. Dr. King rightly said that waiting for those who were imposing unjust laws to change their minds was not the right thing to do. To make a change in the community, to do the work, force the conversation, and disobey unjust laws when needed.

Across the city, country, and world, folks will celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday. My ask is that you remember not just the icon that he is today but the troublemaker, agitator, and disruptor of the status quo that he was and the legacy that he has inspired in each of us and our young leaders.

Quarter Two and Semester One Ends Soon

Quarter 2 ends on January 27, over the next two weeks, students should take every opportunity possible to improve their grades. The number one way to grow is to be in school every day. Please work with your student’s teachers to help each complete assignments on time and prepare for the end of the quarter assessment or projects.