We Stand with Jacob Blake and Breonna Taylor: A Message from the Senior Leadership Team

Enough! ¡Basta!

FAmily, 

Yet another racially-motivated shooting in an attempt to take the life of a Black man.

Yet another police officer with ZERO moral and legal accountability.

FAmily, we are sick and unbelievably tired!

We stand in solidarity with Jacob Blake AND Breonna Taylor. We reject the blatant racist attacks on their lives and ALL Black lives across this country!

While we know that we are all exhausted from reliving this same story, we must once again muster the courage and the strength to pick ourselves up and fight for social justice in pursuit of racial equity. We must do this for ourselves, our scholars, and our families.

At each campus level, we are organizing age-appropriate activities to help our kids process all that is happening right now and uplift our scholars’ voices.

You may be asking yourself, “What can I do?”

Today, we invite you to deeply self-reflect. Ask yourself, “What am I doing at this critical moment in history to challenge my mindset, the mindsets of others, and the systems of oppression that continue to perpetuate systemic racism in our country, our schools, and our communities?”

If we are to enact real change, we must ALL do the work.

We know that many are struggling to process feelings and emotions. If you are, please do not hesitate to reach out to someone you trust – a friend, a family member, or perhaps a colleague. 

While we, too, are hurting, we are here to support you in any way that we can. We are FAmily. 

In Solidarity,

The Foundation Academies Senior Leadership Team
Graig Weiss, CEO, Foundation Academies
Sheria McRae, Chief Academic Officer, Foundation Academies
Natasia Cooper, Principal, Foundation Academy Primary
Venetia Birchmore, Principal, Foundation Academy Intermediate
Angela Joyner, Principal, Foundation Academy Middle
Melissa Campbell, Principal, Foundation Academy Collegiate
Artemus Werts, Principal-In-Residence, Foundation Academies
Shanesia Davis, Director of Training and Development, Foundation Academies


Estamos con Jacob Blake y Breonna Taylor: Un mensaje del equipo de liderazgo sénior

Enough! ¡Basta!

FAmilia,

Otro tiroteo por motivos raciales en un intento de quitarle la vida a un hombre negro.

Otro oficial de policía con CERO responsabilidad moral y legal.

¡FAmilia, estamos enfermos e increíblemente cansados!

Nos solidarizamos con Jacob Blake Y Breonna Taylor. ¡Rechazamos los flagrantes ataques racistas contra sus vidas y TODAS las vidas de los negros en todo este país!

Si bien sabemos que todos estamos agotados de revivir esta misma historia, debemos reunir una vez más el coraje y la fuerza para levantarnos y luchar por la justicia social en pos de la equidad racial. Debemos hacer esto por nosotros mismos, nuestros estudiantes y nuestras familias.

En cada nivel del campus, estamos organizando actividades apropiadas para la edad para ayudar a nuestros niños a procesar todo lo que está sucediendo en este momento y elevar la voz de nuestros estudiantes.

Puede que se pregunte: “¿Qué puedo hacer?”

Hoy te invitamos a reflexionar profundamente sobre ti mismo. Pregúntese: “¿Qué estoy haciendo en este momento crítico de la historia para desafiar mi mentalidad, la mentalidad de los demás y los sistemas de opresión que continúan perpetuando el racismo sistémico en nuestro país, nuestras escuelas y nuestras comunidades?”

Si queremos lograr un cambio real, TODOS debemos hacer el trabajo.

Sabemos que muchos están luchando por procesar sentimientos y emociones. Si es así, no dude en comunicarse con alguien en quien confíe: un amigo, un familiar o quizás un colega. Si bien nosotros también estamos sufriendo, estamos aquí para apoyarlo en todo lo que podamos. Somos FAmilia.

En solidaridad,

El equipo directivo superior de Foundation Academies
Graig Weiss, CEO, Foundation Academies
Sheria McRae, Chief Academic Officer, Foundation Academies
Natasia Cooper, Principal, Foundation Academy Primary
Venetia Birchmore, Principal, Foundation Academy Intermediate
Angela Joyner, Principal, Foundation Academy Middle
Melissa Campbell, Principal, Foundation Academy Collegiate
Artemus Werts, Principal-In-Residence, Foundation AcademiesShanesia Davis, Director of Training and Development, Foundation Academies

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Graig Weiss

Graig Weiss served as the Chief Executive Officer of Foundation Academies from 2014-2022. He began 5 years before as Middle School Principal. A 2003 Teach for America corps member, Mr. Weiss taught Math and Science in the Bronx and the Dominican Republic prior to becoming an administrator and was selected as Teacher of the Year in 2007. Prior to entering the education field, Mr. Weiss worked in the financial services sector with Cambridge Associates, LLC in Boston, MA. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Science in Teaching from Fordham University, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of Scranton.