Detroiters Speak: The Crisis in Public Education in Detroit Since the 1990s

This panel will be moderated by Peter Hammer (WSU Detroit Equity Action Lab & Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights).

Speaker Bios:

HELEN MOORE

Helen Moore has been a life-long advocate and warrior for the children of Detroit, beginning with her days as a State of Michigan Social Worker and continuing with Black Parents for Quality Education and The Keep the Vote No Takeover Coalition. She is also a member of Detroit’s Council of Elders. Ms. Moore educates her community on school district policy, student rights, and other education-related legal issues and parental involvement efforts. She earned a bachelor's degree from Wayne State University and a juris doctorate from the Detroit College of Law.

BERNA RAVITZ

My passion for education began bubbling within me long before I could articulate it. As a youngster I was decidedly unchallenged by school. Ironically that led me to acquire a Bachelor’s in Psychology, a Master’s in Education, certification in Bilingual Education, and finally, a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. All of this was in pursuit of the magic formula for 'evening the playing field' for all of my students. I began utilizing gifted and talented strategies (constructivist education) and saw amazing results in the progress of our students. My Experience as Michigan Teacher of the Year, National Distinguished Principal as well as an Educational Fulbright exchange allowed me such incredible experiences that are invaluable in my work even today. Upon retirement from my being a principal, I worked for several years as an Educational Coach in Detroit Public Schools; I currently dedicate my time towards fulfilling the mission of Simply Start Kids.

RUSS BELLANT

Russ Bellant is a retired City of Detroit employee, President of the Helco Block Club, President of the Detroit Library Commission, member of the Detroit Public Schools Task Force and also a founding steering committee member of RESTORE northeast Detroit.