Tell us a bit about yourself:

Hi! My name is Lauren Dias. I grew up in the Buffalo area but lived in Boston for 12 years after college. My husband’s job brought me back to Western New York right after our first son was born. We now have two very active little boys, and I spend my days trying to keep up with them. Before returning to WNY, I was a middle school teacher in the greater Boston area. Middle school is a time of such growth and exploration, and while it wasn’t my original plan to teach that age, I now can’t imagine having spent my time anywhere else.

You don’t live in the city, so why are you volunteering with Action for Education Equity? 

When we were looking for a house, we did what many families do and considered school districts’ measures of success. At the time, we were not thinking about the extreme privilege we had in using that to guide our decision. My awareness of educational inequity in our community has grown, and I believe that all families should feel confident that their children are receiving a high quality education no matter where they choose to live. It is my responsibility as a community member of the greater Rochester area to help make this a reality.  My son will start school in our home district in a little over a year, and I’m sure he’ll love it. I’m also sure that it won’t always be perfect and that I’ll need to advocate, fundraise, and pitch in along the way. However, our district largely has what it needs to serve its students a “basic education” and beyond.  RCSD does not. And they need everyone’s help in order to do so, at least until the state steps up to do its part. This is our community problem and we should all contribute to solve it.

What do you bring to the project?

A love of education. I miss being in the classroom with students, but that’s not a possibility for me right now. Working with AEE connects me with education in a different way, and I’m learning so much that I will bring back with me to teaching someday.

What’s your biggest hope for the project?

Firstly, I hope that RCSD is supported financially by the state fulfilling its obligation. Secondly, I hope that RCSD receives communal support from the greater Rochester area demonstrating how much its students, teachers, and staff are valued.

Where do you see Action for Education Equity going when your financial goal is met?

I think we all hope to be put out of business as RCSD receives the funding that it is owed, but I also think it would be awesome if AEE was able to provide other cities with resources and a framework for success for addressing this all-too-common issue of educational inequity.