Talisa Sutton-Stephenson (35) is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on curriculum, instruction, and social justice at Trinity Washington University. She is expected to graduate in August 2023.
Born and raised in Washington DC, Talisa’s resilience, strength of character, and dedication to social justice originate from her early childhood experiences. The eldest of ten children raised by a single mother, her family had to cope with poverty and housing insecurity, a situation that she describes not as a disadvantage but as a source of growth. She learned at an early age to reach out to her “village” for assistance. She now shares that knowledge with others and is a strong advocate for her community at large.
A mother of two, Talisa was one of the first parent members and volunteers of “Parents Amplifying Voices in Education” (PAVE), where she has been a vocal advocate for equity in funding and resources for both public and public charter schools across all wards of the city. PAVE and its Community Organizers were successful in introducing the voices of parents to the education policy making process. She is an inclusive and effective organizer and leader.
Talisa works full-time as a Clerk/Registrar at J. O. Wilson Elementary School (Wilson), a DC public school in Northeast DC. In this position, Talisa engages with parents and families to complete the enrollment process, and has been added to school-based teams as the liaison between families and the school. She works tirelessly and has formed community partnerships to help provide food, clothing, toys, temporary housing, and other necessities for Wilson students and their families. She proactively reaches out to identify solutions to problems that the students face or would face without intervention; she also routinely identifies growth opportunities for students and serves as a mentor. Her goal is to ensure that students attend school, embrace learning, and complete the course-work.
Talisa earned her bachelor’s degree from Bowie State University in 2007 and continues to pursue her educational journey at Trinity. While working full time and raising two daughters, she excels academically. Her leadership skills with her peers are recognized in the classroom, as are her human relations talents, empathy, and commitment to redress the social and economic inequities that have historically impacted women and children of color in negative ways, particularly throughout SE Washington, DC.
Talisa aspires to become a school principal in one of the economically disadvantaged wards in the city. It is as a principal that she envisions being able to combat stigmas and implement her educational philosophy that ALL children can learn. She sees herself, and the school that she will manage, as change agents. Social and emotional learning, communication with families, excellence, and community outreach and engagement are her mantras for children’s effective learning.
