The Education Equity Center Announces Their 2021 Anti-Racist Educators for Systems Change Fellows

Written By Christina Celuzza

ST. LOUIS (September 30, 2021) -- The Education Equity Center has selected their 2021 Anti-Racist Educators for Systems Change Fellows. An inspiring group of 10 anti-racist educators will begin meeting in late October for a 9 month experience aimed at building their anti-racist education capacity, and strengthening their leadership towards systems change practice with the collective goal of propelling radical change within the St. Louis regional education system.

In addition to capacity building and leadership development workshops and experiences, the fellows will receive coaching support from leading experts, inspirational travel visits to gain insights from systems across the country, co-working space at Nebula for a year, and a $5,000 stipend. They will also join a growing community of Education Equity Center alumni, meeting monthly, furthering connections and collaboration with other education changemakers in St. Louis.

Below are the 10 educators who were accepted into the fellowship, chosen from dozens of applicants:

2021 Anti-Racist Educators for Systems Change Fellows

  • Dr. JaNae' Alfred, Ph.D, The School District of University City, Administrator

  • LaToya Crockett, Barbara C. Jordan Elementary in University City, 3rd Grade Teacher

  • Morgan Hill, SouthSide Early Childhood Center, Program Director

  • Jen Patterson,  Francis Howell School District, Director of Student Services

  • Dr. Erica Peyton-Nunnery, MRH High School, Administrator for Alternative Programs and AP

  • Kate Polokonis, STEM STL, Interim Executive Director 

  • Mona Rajab, Parkway School District - Sorrento Springs, 1st Grade Learning Experience Designer 

  • Marvin L Rice, Hazelwood School District, Twillman Elementary School, Assistant Principal 

  • James Sykes, Forward Through Ferguson, Youth at the Center, Policy and Advocacy Fellow

  • Nakia Winston, St. Louis Language Immersion School, Social Worker 

"We are honored to work alongside these influential educators over the next 9 months in ways that grow our collective impact towards a more equitable education system across the city and county of St. Louis” says Sherita Love, Executive Director of the Education Equity Center. “As in the past, fellows have gone on to not only influence the staff and students in their own schools, but to influence the staff and students in other schools, nonprofit systems, as well as impact education policy across the state. We look forward to the positive change this group will have on the region."


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The Education Equity Center of St. Louis envisions a transformed education system that is free of racism and harmful practices, policies and systems negatively impacting black and brown students. To that end, we build the anti-racist leadership capacity of educators through intersectional and collaborative events, workshop series, DEI cohorts, and intensive fellowships. Our work amplifies the collective voice of educators and encourages connected partnerships between students, families and organizations across the region. edequitycenter.org 



Christina Celuzza