Eduardo Mendez is the Director of Student Services at the Guadalupe Centers School.
“While the achievement gap between Latino and African-Americans compared to white children has been well documented over the years, what has been less noted is the equity or opportunity gap that exists among these groups. Part of what I hope to gain through the Surge professional development, case discussions, research, and projects is a better understanding of how educational outcomes are impacted by the disparities and patterns of educational inequities in the United States that are formed around race, class, and ethnicity. Through the Surge Academy, I intend to use the knowledge, skills, and network to become a leader for equity by examining the factors that contribute to structural inequities and advocate for policies that increase access to economic, educational, and political opportunity. This means actively engaging others in efforts to change or create new structures that will increase educational equity within schools and across communities.”