An Unwavering Advocate for Racial Equity in Schools

In Kentucky’s Jefferson County Public Schools, John D. Marshall uses data to unmask racial inequities and demand policy changes and supports for students of color and those who are poor. As the district’s chief equity officer, it’s Marshall’s job to ask uncomfortable questions and raise prickly issues about why some students struggle when others thrive.

“I don’t mince my words,” Marshall says. “If we’re going to change an urban district like this, there’s going to have to be a whole lot more tenacity and a lot less glad-handing.”

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