Tell us about yourself:
Hi World! I’m Stuart Hencke, Executive Director of Rochester Education Foundation. I’m a graduate of the Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, NE. My wife, Cecelia, and I are proud 19th Ward residents and enjoy exploring Upstate along with our dog, Pisco. I come from a family of educators but did not hear the call of the classroom. So finding a career that provides me an opportunity to support students, educators, and parents is really a dream come true.
How did you get involved with Action for Education Equity?
Rochester Education Foundation is an independent not-for-profit organization that has been serving city students for over fifteen years. We run our own programs but also proudly partner with passionate community members who want to make an impact in the lives of city students. So when Laura Smith contacted me to see if we could work together and I heard about the energy and goals of the Action for Education Equity group I knew we had to work together. We serve as the fiscal and administrative sponsor of AEE. What does that mean? That means the AEE team can follow their passion and REF can do the paperwork.
On a personal side, I have been drawn to the kinship I share with so many members of this group as transplants to Rochester who are unwilling to accept the status quo.
What motivates you in this work?
I’m motivated by the idea that every child deserves a great education. It is what we as a nation owe to each subsequent generation- an equitable opportunity for everyone to fulfill their full potentials through public education. While no one group can ensure this dream is fully realized, it is incumbent upon all of us to do our part. I see my part as both professionally through the work that REF and our partners do on behalf of students and personally as a city resident who will, one day, be a city school parent as well.
What is your biggest wish for the Rochester City School District ?
Maybe this is less of a wish but more of a moral imperative. We need to banish segregation from public education once and for all. Every district should be fully funded to meet the specific needs of the students it serves to ensure a vibrant, engaging, and high-quality education. My biggest wish for the District, its students, and our community is a dismantling of the systems that were designed to prevent that dream from being realized.