Measures of student success—including assessment scores, graduation rates, college-going rates, and attendance rates—frequently expose glaring differences in a child’s likelihood to succeed based on their race, family income or zip code. In an effort to regionally and systematically break down barriers impeding a child’s success, the three Metro-region education service districts launched a collaborative effort to examine school and government practices, and provide professional learning. Clackamas, Northwest Regional and Multnomah Education Service Districts (ESDs) selected Sharif Zakir Liwaru to head up this urgent work.
I am deeply honored to represent education service districts across Northwest Oregon,” says Liwaru. “Since high school, my focused passion is to open more doors for more students, and I’m blessed to join a team that understands the value in doing this work shoulder-to-shoulder.”
In his role, Liwaru will partner with school districts and their staff, community-based organizations, and elected officials to advise on strategic actions that will expand opportunities and improve outcomes for historically marginalized students.
“Our three education service districts are committed to providing the best possible service to schools, educators and students in our regions,” says Clackamas ESD Superintendent Jada Rupley. “We’re grateful and excited to welcome Liwaru who will bring creative and strategic thinking to help us genuinely tackle challenges spanning many generations of students.”
Dan Goldman, Northwest Regional ESD’s Superintendent says “Each student in our public schools deserves every opportunity to dream big and fulfill their potential. What’s clear is our education systems have yet to consistently deliver on this promise for our communities of color – and, if we are truly to achieve excellence as a state, this undeniable reality must change. Liwaru is committed to helping educators across our region open the doors of success for our historically underserved students and families.”
In its first large-scale professional learning opportunity, the tri-ESD collaborative, dubbed Cascade Alliance for Equity (CAFE) will host nationally renowned speaker Tim Wise at a conference on October 31 at the Portland Airport Sheraton.
With over 26 years of leadership in equity and education—including as the Equity and Diversity Office Director for Omaha Public Schools, the Attendance Collaborative Director for the University of Nebraska, and the President of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation—Liwaru brings a depth of knowledge in building positive partnerships, engaging community, developing leaders and expanding opportunities for historically marginalized students. He holds a Master of Public Administration for Nonprofit Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Black Studies from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Oregon has 19 education service districts (ESDs) that provide leadership and often fill voids in the service continuum of local schools. ESDs are conveners, collaborators, visionaries and leaders that, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Education, ensure every student in Oregon has access to dynamic and responsive education programming–no matter where they live. Multnomah, Clackamas and Northwest Regional ESDs serve local schools, students, and districts in northwest Oregon including the Portland Metro area representing approximately 50% of the students in Oregon. For more information about the work of the ESDs visit:
www.clackesd.org
www.multnomahesd.org
www.nwresd.org
