Shaping America's Education Agenda

Dr. Sonya Whitaker, the National Director for Educational Policy for PUSH Excel, will be the moderator of our upcoming virtual town hall discussion. Dr. Whitaker is a national speaker and highly regarded educator who started as a classroom teacher and has since served as Superintendent of Schools in two different school districts in Illinois. She also has served as Deputy Superintendent of Schools and as a central office administrator for the largest elementary school district in the state.

Dr. Whitaker is the founder of Whitaker Educational Consulting, Inc., the author of Is There Anybody That Can Teach Me How to Read?, and the host of the national radio show and podcast: What’s Really Going On??, a spotlight on solutions for improving student achievement in America’s schools.

Rev. Jackson is one of America’s foremost civil rights, religious and political figures and the Founder and President of Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which focuses on civil rights work through economic parity, equal educational opportunities, and international social justice and peace.

Over the past 40 years, he has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic and social justice and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, by President Clinton. A hallmark of Rev. Jackson’s work has been his commitment to youth. He has visited thousands of high schools, colleges, universities and correctional facilities encouraging excellence and inspiring hope in  young people.

Dr. Malveaux is the President of PUSH Excel. She has long been recognized for her progressive and insightful observations. Dr. Malveaux’s popular writing has appeared in USA Today, Black Issues in Higher Education, Ms. Magazine, Essence Magazine, and the Progressive. Dr. Malveaux has been a contributor to academic life since receiving her Ph.D. in economics from MIT in 1980. During her time as the 15th President of Bennett College for Women, Dr. Malveaux was the architect of exciting and innovative transformation at America’s oldest historically black college for women. She is the President and owner of Economic Education, a 501 c-3 non-profit headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Joy Lawson Davis is an award-winning author, scholar, professional learning trainer, independent consultant, and equity activist. Her areas of expertise are culturally responsive teaching; equity and access in Gifted Education programs; and, meeting the needs of diverse gifted learners with multiple exceptionalities. Dr. Davis is also an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, School of Education/Gifted Education.

She holds two degrees in Gifted Education from the College of William & Mary and was the Associate Professor & Chair of the Dept. of Teacher Education at Virginia Union University, as well as Assistant Professor of the School of Education at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, where she taught undergraduate & graduate coursework in Teacher Education and Gifted Education.

Dr. Donna Leak is the Superintendent of Community Consolidated Schools District 168 in Sauk Village, IL, and serves as the Vice Chair of the Illinois State Board of Education. As Vice Chair of the State Board, she has been instrumental in updates to the mission, vision, goals, equity statement and updated strategic plan for the state of Illinois. Under her tenure in District 168, the district has made major facility updates, including playgrounds, new flooring, a renovated track at the Junior High School, new water filtration system at all buildings, and Media Center renovations in a two-year window of time. Her efforts have also increased the integration of technology at all levels within the district, including chrome books and hot spots for all students. The district has seen considerable improvements in academics, technology and social emotional needs for children. In December 2014, she was named the Sauk Village Person of the year for her work in the school district, and in 2021, she was named the Illinois Superintendent of the Year for her efforts. Previously, she served as the Superintendent of Rich Township High School District 227. Under her leadership, the District received numerous awards and recognition, including Best High Schools in America Bronze Winners Rich East in 2009, 2010, 2012 and Rich Central in 2012.