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The principal at a Chattanooga, Tennessee, middle school has apologized after announcing that the school’s Black History Month theme would be “All Lives Matter.”
East Ridge Middle School announced the theme in its weekly newsletter, which was sent out to families Sunday.
Principal Christy Caldwell Drake issued an apology Monday, explaining that her inspiration for the theme was a mural in the school which says “Where Every Child Matters.”
“I want to apologize for not more fully considering the context of that theme,” she wrote in a letter that was sent to families.
“As a black woman in leadership, I embrace civil rights, Black History Month and the sacrifices that have been made by those who came before me. I hope that my students, many of whom look like me, believe in the possibilities of their unlimited potential,” she wrote.
MomsRising smashed records this year when it came to voter engagement. Volunteers sent over 3.3 million texts and 4.4 million postcards to connect with mom voters. They helped them register to vote, learn about their voting options, and get out to vote early. MomsRising’s staff and incredible volunteers across the country do this work because they recognize that elected leaders at all levels have the power to shape outcomes for young children and their families. MomsRising was not alone in recognizing the need to engage those who care about early childhood in electoral engagement. Several of their partners in this work, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Every Child Matters (ECM) also supported parents, providers, and community members invested in early childhood in making their voices heard and engaging those around them.