Great educators have great stories. This series gives a glimpse of the ideas, practices, and experiences of the recipients of the NEA Foundation’s California Casualty Awards for Teaching Excellence. Today, we’re sharing the words of Anthony Pitts, a language arts educator at Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School in Ridgeland, S.C..
Advocacy for my profession and for public education extends well beyond the school and classroom. I am heavily involved in my communities with organizations like Big Brother, Big Sister; Habitat for Humanity; 100 Black Men of Savannah/Charlotte; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; and a host of local governing boards.
In these capacities, I bring the platforms of education to the forefront in illustrating how policies and practices in education directly affect each and every aspect of our society. In most cases, I am given the “bully pulpit” to address key issues in the face of those who may seek to adversely alter public education.
I welcome these challenges and hardlined discussions because these are the opportunities to engage in the fight to protect public schooling for all.
Meet more of the 2018 NEA Foundation awardees here. We’ll celebrate them at the 2018 Salute to Excellence in Education gala in February. Hope to see you there!
