Jessica Smyers: Leading the Charge for Equitable Education

Introduction

Jessica Smyers, a tireless advocate for educational equity, has dedicated her career to ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality education. Through her work as an educator, researcher, and policymaker, she has made significant contributions to closing the achievement gap and creating a more just and equitable education system.

Early Life and Education

Jessica Smyers was born in a small town in North Carolina to a family of educators. From a young age, she witnessed firsthand the power of education to transform lives and was inspired to pursue a career in teaching. After graduating from high school, she earned a bachelor's degree in education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Smyers went on to earn a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of California, Berkeley, and a doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the impact of high-stakes testing on student learning and teacher practice.

Career

Smyers began her career as a high school English teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She quickly gained recognition for her innovative teaching methods and her ability to reach students from diverse backgrounds. After several years in the classroom, she joined the faculty of the University of California, Los Angeles, where she directed the Center for Research on Educational Equity.

As a researcher, Smyers conducted groundbreaking studies on the achievement gap, teacher quality, and the impact of education policy on student outcomes. Her research has been published in top academic journals and has been cited by numerous policymakers and educators.

In 2015, Smyers was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the Deputy Secretary of Education. In this role, she oversaw the implementation of a range of education policies and programs, including the Every Student Succeeds Act, which replaced No Child Left Behind.

After leaving the Department of Education, Smyers became the CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. In this role, she led the organization's efforts to improve educational outcomes for students with learning disabilities.

Contributions to Educational Equity

Throughout her career, Jessica Smyers has made significant contributions to educational equity. Her research on the achievement gap has helped to raise awareness about the persistent disparities in education outcomes between students from different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Her work on teacher quality has led to the development of new policies and programs to ensure that all students have access to high-quality teachers.

Smyers has also been a vocal advocate for policies that support students from marginalized communities. She has worked to expand access to early childhood education, increase funding for schools in low-income communities, and reduce the use of punitive discipline practices.

Awards and Recognition

Jessica Smyers has received numerous awards and accolades for her work in education. In 2017, she was named one of the "100 Most Influential People in Education" by Education Week. She has also received the Albert Einstein Award from the Albert Einstein Institute and the John Dewey Medal from the Progressive Education Network.

Education Statistics

• According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the achievement gap between white students and black students in reading and math has narrowed slightly in recent years, but significant disparities persist. In 2022, the average score for white students in fourth-grade reading was 214, compared to 194 for black students. In eighth-grade math, the average score for white students was 288, compared to 251 for black students.
• The achievement gap is also evident in college enrollment and completion rates. In 2019, only 36% of black students enrolled in college directly after high school, compared to 59% of white students. Only 23% of black students completed a bachelor's degree within six years, compared to 61% of white students.
• Research has shown that there are a number of factors that contribute to the achievement gap, including poverty, lack of access to high-quality early childhood education, and bias in school discipline practices.

Tables

New Field of Application

One of the most pressing challenges facing education today is the need to prepare students for a rapidly changing world. The jobs of the future will require skills that are not typically taught in traditional schools, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration.

To address this challenge, educators are exploring a new field of application called "21st century skills." This field of study focuses on developing the skills that students need to succeed in the modern world, such as:

• Problem-solving
• Critical thinking
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Creativity

How to Achieve Success in the New Field of Application

There are a number of things that educators can do to achieve success in the new field of application. First, they need to create a learning environment that is conducive to the development of 21st century skills. This means providing students with opportunities to work collaboratively, solve problems, and think critically.

Second, educators need to use instructional methods that are effective for teaching 21st century skills. These methods include project-based learning, inquiry-based learning, and problem-based learning.

Third, educators need to assess students' progress in the development of 21st century skills. This can be done through a variety of methods, such as portfolios, performance tasks, and self-assessments.

Conclusion

Jessica Smyers is a visionary leader who has dedicated her career to ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality education. Her work has helped to narrow the achievement gap, improve teacher quality, and reduce the use of punitive discipline practices. As we face the challenges of the 21st century, educators can look to Smyers for inspiration as they work to create a more equitable and just education system.