Surge Academy Connects KC Education Leaders of Color
KCPS is proud to announce that four of our staff members will be participating in Surge Academy this school year.
Surge Academy is an innovative and far-reaching approach to transforming urban education for our youth and communities. Fellows spend six months developing, elevating and uniting emerging education leaders of color in small and mid-sized cities so they can, as a coalition, build movements that influence, innovate and transform the education space with their own communities.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Collier participated in the first Kansas City cohort in 2019 and looks forward to supporting and encouraging this year’s fellows on their Surge Academy journey.
Travanna Alexander-Toney
Director of Behavioral Health
“I look forward to strengthening executive skills that will transform education systems, as well as communities, and be in a position to influence policy, advocate for systemic changes and invest resources for community growth.”
Marquis Hall
Manager of Student Diversity & Inclusion Programs
“Surge will allow me to move the educational landscape for children in my community. More than ever, we must provide opportunities for hope and healing in our schools and communities so that our students will experience the world on their own terms.”
Jade Smith
Speech Language Pathologist
“Surge is an opportunity to relearn the power and impact of my voice in a safe space. I want to use the skills acquired during the program to encourage and support the staff and students I encounter.”
Harrison Neal Sr.
Principal, Central Middle School
"My hope is the Surge Academy will continue to enhance my leadership abilities to advocate for social justice needs, provide a deeper context to decision-making within communities and leverage opportunities to work alongside other leaders of color to address systemic issues needing immediate change."
Congratulations to our 2023 Surge Academy fellows!