Black History Education Conference

11:00a-11:25a | Room D1630

Chelsea Tubbs will be presenting a Wisconsin Multicultural Education Timeline preceding the Intergenerational Black Panel of Educators responding to Key Moments in Wisconsin’s Black History.

With over two decades of experience as an educator, Chelsea Tubbs proudly serves as the Associate Superintendent of Elementary Schools for Emerson, Henderson, Lake View, Leopold, Lowell, Mendota, Muir, Orchard Ridge, Southside, and Thoreau elementary schools. In 2020, she was nominated for MMSD’s Excellence with Equity: Schools at the Center award. Her previous role in MMSD was as the Deputy Associate Superintendent of Elementary Schools for the past four years and as an elementary school improvement partner. Born and raised in Beloit, Wisconsin, she fondly remembers playing high school athletics against Madison teams.

Ms. Tubbs holds an M.Ed. from Columbia University’s Teachers College in Education Leadership, an M.S. from Pace University in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, and a B.A. from Beloit College in Political Science and Education and Youth Studies. She is currently a doctoral student in the Urban Education Leaders Program at Columbia University’s Teachers College.

1:15p-2:15p | Room C2408

Studies have shown that the literacy achievement of African American students was below grade level prior to the pandemic.  The problem has only worsened in the midst of the pandemic, but this need not be so. Dr. Akua demonstrates a culturally relevant, effective, engaging way to increase reading comprehension, vocabulary development, grammar and writing skills.

Dr. Chike Akua is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Clark Atlanta University and a leading authority on increasing the achievement of today’s students, especially those in some of the most challenging schools and communities.  His cultural proficiency, equity and accountability work is known nationally for assisting school systems in improving school and community climate and culture.

As a recognized master teacher and leadership strategist, Dr. Akua is one of the most sought-after speakers at regional and national conferences, urban school districts, colleges and universities. With a culturally relevant approach toward closing access and opportunity gaps, he is known for his dynamic, interactive presentations to teachers, leaders, parents, and students.

Dr. Akua is a former Teacher of the Year who has been recognized in two states (VA and GA) for teaching excellence. He was also selected as one of Ebony magazine’s “50 Leaders of Tomorrow.” Deeply committed to culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy and instructional materials, Dr. Akua has written and published several books and parent/teacher guides designed for today’s students.

Education for Transformation: The Keys to Releasing the Genius of African American Students is a book for teachers and leaders that is used in a number of urban school districts for professional development. It is also used in a number of colleges and universities for preparation of pre-service teachers and leaders.

Learn more about Dr. Akua at www.drakua.net.

2:30p-3:30p | Room C2408

This session will explore of the histories of Black people in what became the state of Wisconsin, from the French colonial period in the 1720s through the American Civil War. It will highlight the importance of multidimensional, real regular diverse Black Community Members forging talents, gifts, and historical accounts to make way for a collective joyous way forward.

Christy Clark-Pujara, PhD is Chair and Professor of the Department of African American Studies, Affiliate: Department of History and H.I. Romnes Faculty Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Clark-Pujara is an historian whose research focuses on the experiences of black people in French and British North America in the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. She is particularly interested in retrieving the hidden and unexplored histories of African Americans in areas that historians have not sufficiently examined—small towns and cities in the North and Midwest. She contends that the full dimensions of the African American and American experience cannot be appreciated without reference to how black people managed their lives in places where they were few. An absence of a large black populace did not mean that ideas of blackness were not central to the social, political, and economic development of these places.

3:45p-4:45p | Room C2402

Attendees will learn about dynamic Wisconsinites William Maxwell, Henry Early, and James D. Williams and how their businesses thrived in early Wisconsin despite the horrors of illegal slavery. This session leverages the past for the future of Black History Education in Wisconsin. It offers both troubling and inspiring lessons about Black Wisconsinites in a period that begins before statehood. It reminds all that many Black families have been American longer than most others and helped build the place we call Wisconsin.

Dr. Eugene Tesdahl is an Associate Professor of History at UW-Platteville. Dr. Tesdahl specializes in Indigenous histories, early American history, women’s history, and public history. Recent publications address nineteenth-century Black entrepreneurship in the Midwest, illegal slavery in Wisconsin, and Haudenosaunee cosmology.

11:30a-11:55a | Room D1630

This session, moderated by Dr. Christy Clark-Pujara, features a very special intergenerational panel of educators!

In 1962, Geraldine Bernard became the first Black teacher hired by the Madison Metropolitan School District. She began teaching in Madison after teaching in Louisiana. The retired educator often reflects on her historic experience. At first, she said she was a pool teacher, now called a substitute teacher. In that role, Bernard said she was able to visit multiple schools throughout the district. Eventually, she went on to settle into teaching positions at Silver Spring, and then Aldo Leopold Elementary School. She was a founding member of the African American Educators Association. She retired as a fourth grade teacher from Aldo Leopold in 1989. At 93 she has kept busy by bowling with her group of friends called the Happy Ladies. They bowl together every Tuesday. She also runs the Food Pantry at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

Carolyn Stanford Taylor is an educator who served as the 27th Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2019 to 2021. Stanford Taylor was the first African American to serve as Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction. Stanford Taylor served as a classroom teacher and principal in the Madison Metropolitan School District for twenty years, serving as principal of Marquette and Lincoln elementary schools and Wright Middle School. She was also the first African-American president of the local teachers union. Prior to her appointment as State Superintendent, Stanford Taylor was the first female African-American appointed to serve as an assistant state superintendent. She supervised the Special Education Team, one of the agency’s largest teams; the Student Services/Prevention and Wellness Team, which focused on student safety, support, and engagement; and the residential schools for students who are blind and visually impaired in Janesville and students who are deaf and hard of hearing in Delavan. Stanford Taylor is the 2018 recipient Virginia Hart Special Recognition, an award bestowed by the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Personnel Management, to female state employees “who are making a difference through their service to Wisconsin.”

Dr. Aquine Jackson earned a Bachelor of Science Degree with an emphasis in Physical Education (1969) from the University of Wisconsin Madison and a Master of Science Degree with an emphasis in Administrative Leadership (1973) from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. In 1980 he received a Doctor of Philosophy with an emphasis on Physical Education and Administrative Leadership. His professional career paths led him to a wealth of experiences such as Physical Education Teacher, Supervising Teacher, Professional Education Consultant, Assistant Principal, Principal, Summer and Evening Program Administrator, Director of Neighborhood Schools, Director of Student Services Division, Chief Academic officer, and Community Superintendent for the Milwaukee Public School system.

Ari Davis was born and raised on the south/west side of Madison, Wisconsin. Ari Davis attended Lincoln Elementary School, James C. Wright Middle School and eventually graduated from Madison West High school in 2016. In 2018, he earned an Associates of Arts and Sciences in Health Education from the University of Wisconsin Richland, followed by a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with a minor in Physical Education and a Specialization in Leisure and Recreation from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater in 2020. Ari takes pride in being a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. as well as being a product of the Madison, Wisconsin community.  Ari’s work has led him to numerous awards, including the Kid’s First Superintendent’s Recognition of Excellence Award and Urban League’s Outstanding Young Person Award. Currently, he is in his 2nd year as the Lead Physical Education Teacher at Leopold Elementary in Madison, Wisconsin where he hopes to continue making a positive impact on the students and families in his community.

Thomas Kearney was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. After high school, Thomas attended the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Marketing. Upon finishing his undergraduate degree, he felt the hunger to continue his education, and decided to obtain his Masters in Higher Education from Whitewater. Thomas arrived in Madison in 2019 and immediately decided to make an impact in youth development as the Director of after school programming for Madison School & Recreation. He currently works as a Community Schools Resource Coordinator at Leopold Community School. Thomas believes that every child has the capacity to reach for the stars, if they have the right support system behind them.

Andreal Davis is a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and Statewide Culturally Responsive Practices Leader in Wisconsin. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education in 1986 and a Master of Science Degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 1995 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also holds a certificate in Educational Administration from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin. Convinced of the importance of family and community in a child’s education, Davis has been instrumental in forming family-school-community relationships ever since she began her teaching in 1986. She has served in various capacities in the public education arena including but not limited to an Elementary Educator, Title I Reading Instructor, Parent Involvement Coordinator, Instructional Resource Teacher for Cultural Relevance, Assistant Director of Equity and Family Involvement and the nation’s first Director of African American Student Achievement with the Madison Metropolitan School District in Madison, Wisconsin. She was formerly co-director, along with her husband Arlington, of the African American Ethnic Academy, an academic and cultural enrichment program that convened on Saturday mornings. As a product of the research she did while serving as co-director at the African American Ethnic Academy she was propelled by her own three sons and countless other under-served children across the country and devoted her life’s work to researching best practices and models around Culturally Responsive Practices that speak to the unique identities and world views of these children.

Reflecting on her own educational experiences as a child and those she has had as a classroom teacher and mother, she has held deeply in her heart the people, purposes and passions that shaped and have had a profound effect on the educational leader she is today. Many of these experiences remain in her institutional memory and call her to create and share this work through publishing books, developing curriculum and consulting work across the nation. Included in this repertoire of tools and resources are a professional development model called Cultural Practices that are Relevant (CPR) that supports and strengthens Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching in Wisconsin and across the country. She has published a culturally responsive children’s book called, “Dreaming In Ethnic Melodies” that shares the hopes and dreams she has held for her own three sons. She previously served as Wisconsin’s Culturally Responsive Practices Coordinator at the Wisconsin Response to Intervention Center. In that role she led this work along with a team of colleagues, training practitioners across the state of Wisconsin and nationally from a model she co-created called the Model to Inform Culturally Responsive Practices that focuses on what it means to be culturally responsive starting with self and moving that work across an entire equitable multi-level system of support. That model is still being used at the state level today.

As a result of this work Andreal has received various awards. She was the recipient of the NBC 15 News Crystal Apple Award in 2000, UW-Madison Lois Gadd Nemec Distinguished Elementary Education Alumni Award in 2004, Order of the Eastern Star Mother Full of Grace in 2004, the Milken National Educator Award in 2004 and the YWCA woman of Distinction Award in 2013.

2:30p-3:30p | Room C2451

During Jalateefa’s session, participants will have the opportunity to gain insights into the importance of writing and how it can positively impact young children. The focus will be on her newest children’s book, “Jalateefa’s Journey through Writing,” which aims to inspire young readers to discover the wonders of literature.

The session will begin with a discussion on the significance of writing in early childhood education. Jalateefa will share her experiences and research, highlighting how writing can foster creativity, critical thinking, and communication skills in young children. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how writing plays a crucial role in a child’s cognitive and emotional development.

Next, Jalateefa will introduce various techniques and tools that can be used to pre teach literature to young children. These strategies will enable participants to engage children in interactive and immersive learning experiences. Jalateefa will emphasize the importance of incorporating a variety of tools, such as storytelling, illustrations, and multimedia, to cater to diverse learning styles and enhance comprehension.

Throughout the session, there will be hands-on activities and group discussions to encourage active participation and collaboration among participants. Jalateefa will also share examples from her own book, showcasing how these techniques can be applied in real-life scenarios.

By the end of the session, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the importance of writing in early childhood education. They will have gained new skills and tools to effectively pre-teach literature to young children, enabling them to expand their vocabulary and comprehension to higher-level literacy. As a special gift from Jalateefa; all session participants will receive a free learning box that they can utilize in session but also take home to utilize with the children they support.

Jalateefa Joe-Meyers is the CEO of Sparkle Productions Inc. This company specializes in creating educational learning tools and social and emotional tools for children from birth through 5th grade. Their materials include a wide range of products such as books, dolls, toys, vocabulary cards, and world learning blocks.

1:15p-2:15p | Room C2402

Through captivating narratives and archival insights, participants in this workshop will gain a profound understanding of the rich tapestry of Black business in Wisconsin, from the early days of pioneering ventures to the dynamic landscape of contemporary entrepreneurship.

Key takeaways include:

• Historical Heritage: Uncover the hidden gems of Wisconsin’s Black entrepreneurial history, revealing remarkable individuals and businesses that have contributed to the state’s cultural and economic tapestry.
• Trailblazers and Visionaries: Explore the stories of trailblazing entrepreneurs who defied odds, challenged norms, and paved the way for future generations, leaving an enduring legacy.
• Resilience and Innovation: Understand how resilience and innovation have been integral to the survival and success of Black entrepreneurs in Wisconsin, navigating challenges and adapting to change.
• Contemporary Landscape: Examine the current state of Black entrepreneurship in Wisconsin, featuring dynamic individuals who continue to shape the future of business in the state.
• Leveraging the Past for Future Success: Discuss strategies for leveraging the invaluable lessons from Wisconsin’s Black legacy to inspire and guide aspiring entrepreneurs in building a future rooted in innovation, inclusion, and success.

2:30p-3:30p | Room C2402

This session will focus on celebration of the rich history of Pleasant Ridge, exploring how their legacy inspires community nurturing with a love ethic and collective care framework. The session aligns with the conference’s focus on leveraging Wisconsin’s past to build futures. It emphasizes intimate stories, restorative strategies, and empowerment.

Key takeaways include applying a “love ethic” and collective care framework in community preservation. This takeaway aligns with the goal of extending the legacy of Black communities in Wisconsin.

1:15p-2:15p | Room C2455

My talk will center on my personal journey to art and how I became a professional painter. I will look at the road blocks and the struggle that many black artist experience, such as moving past the negative stereotypes about artists i.e.…the starving artist, or not finding recognition until after death. We will also dive into the challenges that many Black artists face in trying to find role models and mentors. And finally we will explore the need for self-drive, determination, studying, discipline, and continuous practice. We will also take a look at new children’s book I illustrated called, Ida B. Wells marches for the vote.

Jerry Jordan is a painter working in the style of contemporary realism. He counts the unsung artist of the Harlem Renaissance as his artistic role models. He has also been heavily influenced by such artist as John S. Sargent, William M. Chase, and Joaquin Sorolla just to name a few. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Whitewater with a BA in Art, as well as his MS in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Art Education. With a growing body of work, he is quickly becoming a highly sought-after artist.

3:45p-4:45p | Room C2455

What’s the big deal about cancer research?

In this session you will learn how different kinds of research need your help. Let’s talk about different kinds of cancer research. There are ways to participate, even if you don’t have cancer. We want to show you how research is finding the answers to important questions about cancer and will lead to better screenings, treatments, and possible cures.

Joshua Wright is a Community Project Coordinator for the Cancer Health Disparities Initiative in the Carbone Cancer Center. He works with organizations and community members to support health awareness through cancer prevention activities, education and programs. These efforts promote CHDI’s mission to reduce disparate outcomes for populations that experience heavier cancer burdens.

Dr. Joshua Lang is a physician-scientist with a broad background in molecular biology, medical oncology and translational research. He joined the faculty at the UW-Madison Carbone Cancer Center in 2012 with an independent laboratory focused on the development and integration of liquid biopsies for translational research and clinical trials.

3:45p-4:45p | Room C2408

When a black man like me gets into a car, there’s always a thought in the back of my mind – is this my last ride? Every time I drive, I just hope to return home safely. Join me on a journey. As I drive, I reflect on my past experiences and how they shape who I am today, guiding me towards the future.

Let’s explore Wisconsin, particularly the 53206 area, and Appleton, my residents, which was a sundown town until 1973. We’ll delve into a discussion led by doctoral student Kempton Freeman. He’ll shed light on the challenges Black boys face in education, particularly how they are unfairly perceived and treated. We’ll examine disciplinary policies like zero tolerance and their impact on Black students in K-12 schools.

Hop in and be my passenger. Let’s listen to the music of Kempton Freeman, who turned his life around from being labeled a St Louis delinquent to becoming a respected scholar.

Kempton R. Freeman, known for keeping it real with his high energy messages. He draws from his own personal experiences, growing up in the inner-city of St. Louis. Dealing with the murders of his  father and brother, His dad was shot and died when Kempton was nine years old; his younger brother who died from his wounds at the age of eleven; dealing with inner-city gangs; surviving an environment of drugs and violence; surviving academic struggles and discovering where he fit into life outside of the inner-city; Kempton allows his life to be an open book so that others might learn from how he rose from a life of adversity to one of inspiration and success.

2:30p-3:30p | Room C2447

This session will provide attendees the opportunity to examine the role that school culture and “behavior management” plays in engaging or disinvesting students, and particularly students of color, from the educational setting.  There are four main areas that will be examined including school expectations, bias, control and compliance versus connection and assumptions that frequently operate in schools. In examining these core areas, participants will begin to develop ideas and ways to address these best intentions gone wrong.

Milaney Leverson‘s career has been grounded in the belief that every child has the right to equitable educational supports, and that social systems are responsible for ensuring that those supports are delivered with care and with sustainability in mind. Her efforts related to social justice and equity have been focused in the areas of discipline, policy, and embedding culturally responsive practices into universal systems.

Milaney is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and licensed Director of Special Education and Pupil Services who has been working in and supporting schools for over fifteen years. Milaney is currently employed as an Educational Consultant for Systems Equity as part of the Collaborative Organization Revitalization for Equity service at CESA 10, is one of the CESA 10 EMLSS Coaches and one of the Statewide EMLSS Project Coordinators. Prior to this role, she was employed as a Technical Assistance Coordinator with the Wisconsin RtI Center / PBIS Network and supported Wisconsin schools in implementing PBIS and culturally responsive practices. Milaney has collaborated with other state PBIS teams to embed culturally responsive practices into their PBIS framework and has presented at state, national, and international conferences on the topic of creating culturally responsive PBIS systems. Additionally, Milaney is a founding member of the Equity Work Group with the National PBIS Center.

Kent Smith has worked primarily in public institutions for most of his career. Through these experiences he has learned how they operate and believes that schools, districts and other public institutions have been given a public trust to provide the best services to the community members that they serve. This public trust carries with it a public responsibility to engage in continuous improvement to ensure it is serving ALL stake holders and addressing any causes of inequality or injustice that may stem from their policies and practices.

Kent is a social worker by training and has been a school social worker in Wisconsin for the last 23 years. He began his career as a county child abuse investigator and in-home family therapist before switching his practice to working in schools. He currently is an Educational Consultant for the Collaborative Organization Revitalization for Equity service at CESA 10, is one of the CESA 10 EMLSS Coaches and one of the Statewide EMLSS Project Coordinators. Prior to beginning his current employment, Kent worked for the Wisconsin Response to Intervention Center/PBIS Network, focusing on training and supporting culturally responsive practices and PBIS for schools in Wisconsin. He has presented content on PBIS, Response to Intervention and PBIS, as well as Culturally Responsive Practices and PBIS at state, national and international conferences and has collaborated with other state PBIS team to begin embedding culturally responsive practices in their frameworks. He has been an adjunct Social Work instructor for the University of Wisconsin (Madison and Eau Claire) at the undergraduate and graduate level and is a founding, and current, member of the Equity Work Group with the National PBIS Technical Assistance Center.

1:15p-2:15p | Room C2447

The Education Preparedness Program, Center for Urban Research and Teaching Outreach (CURTO), Marquette University, provides educational opportunities to marginalized, disenfranchised, and legal system impacted persons utilizing an inside out collaborative effort amongst educational entities and legal system stakeholders. This presentation will detail some of the specific successes and barriers that the program experiences as a result of providing services to various legal system impacted persons under various circumstances. Also, this presentation will detail some of the unique challenges that service providers may face as they attempt to provide services for legal system impacted persons. Moreover, this presentation will discuss some of the idiosyncrasies that appear germane to people of color, specifically Black people, as they attempt to navigate the educational paradigm. Finally, this presentation will provide some information regarding potential practices for meeting and anticipating the challenges of educating and continuing to establish communication and connection to community partners and service providers.

Shar-Ron Buie serves as the Associate Director of Student Success and Recruitment for the Education Preparedness Program, Marquette University, and as the Associate Director for the JustDane organization, Madison WI. Shar-Ron is a member of the Board of Directors for the Federal Defender Service Board of the Eastern and Western District Courts, the Dane County Community Justice Council – Pretrial Services Subcommittee, the Community Police Advisory Board, and the Milwaukee Reentry Council. He is a legal system-impacted Service-Connected Veteran who has represented legal system impacted persons in criminal and civil cases. Shar-Ron is a PhD. Candidate, ABD, in Criminal Justice and holds a paralegal degree, a BS and MS from UW Platteville. Shar-Ron also served with honor and distinction in the United States Marine Corps and in 2001, founded American Legion Post 1998 and served as its first elected Commander. serves as the Associate Director of Student Success and Recruitment for the Education Preparedness Program, Marquette University, and as the Associate Director for the JustDane organization, Madison WI. Shar-Ron is a member of the Board of Directors for the Federal Defender Service Board of the Eastern and Western District Courts, the Dane County Community Justice Council – Pretrial Services Subcommittee, the Community Police Advisory Board, and the Milwaukee Reentry Council. He is a legal system-impacted Service-Connected Veteran who has represented legal system impacted persons in criminal and civil cases. Shar-Ron is a PhD. Candidate, ABD, in Criminal Justice and holds a paralegal degree, a BS and MS from UW Platteville. Shar-Ron also served with honor and distinction in the United States Marine Corps and in 2001, founded American Legion Post 1998 and served as its first elected Commander.

3:45p-4:45p | Room C2447

This session is about a poem brought to life with beautiful, culturally rich illustrations. Learn how to inspire young Black girls everywhere to embrace the essence of who they are and the diverseness of the beauty they possess. Whether it is their hair, eyes, nose, mouth, or intelligence, this session reveals the brilliance in the uniqueness of a pretty Black girl.

Uchenna Jones is a wife and mother of three amazing children. Currently, Uchenna is the Community Impact Director of Health at United Way of Dane County. She is a Registered Nurse and alum from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with Bachelor of Science degrees in both Bacteriology and Nursing. Inspired by my children, Uchenna decided to step out on faith and write children’s books. Uchenna is a published author of two children’s book, “Hello, My Name Is” and “Pretty Black Girl.” Both books were inspired by real life events. Uchenna wants her readers to know how important and special they are.

The Urban Community Arts Network will be celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop.

The Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum, leading an educational journey to Milton, bringing to light lesser-known narratives of Black history.

The Wisconsin Historical Society is showcasing the “Crossing the Line” exhibit, a poignant homage to the civil rights warriors of the Milwaukee Fair Housing Marches.