Rigor. Standards. Responsibility.

Originally published in The Philadelphia Citizen

This November marks the 50th anniversary of the murder of a lesser-known Black hero, arguably the most innovative educator of his time: Marcus Foster.

Known for turning around some of Philadelphia’s and Oakland’s most troubled schools, Foster was ahead of his time. He gained prominence in the 1960s and 70s for setting a high-water mark that public education struggles to achieve today. His value proposition and overarching educational philosophy are as relevant now as they were five decades ago.

I attended the same elementary school where his wife, Albertine “Abbe,”  taught. As a young boy, I used to see Foster all the time at school events. Back then, I didn’t grasp how important he was.

Read more in The Philadelphia Citizen