Dr. Art McCoy on Spiritual Justice, Race, and Education in the 21st Century
The Principia community was invited to the first in a series of summer conversations on the topic of race, diversity, and inclusion. It occured Friday, June 19.
Our first conversation partner was Dr. Art McCoy. Dr. McCoy has been breaking through barriers since he was a teenager – first, as the youngest certified teacher in the state of Missouri at age 19. Before taking on his current role as the superintendent of the Jennings School District, he was the youngest and first African-American Superintendent/CEO of the Ferguson-Florissant School District, beginning in 2010.
Dr. McCoy is a nationally recognized speaker, consultant, and champion of students who has been awarded numerous prestigious national, state, and local awards related to both education and race issues. He is passionate about character and spiritual development in young people and about creating communities that support that development.
This series is designed to spark conversation and increased understanding and seeks to inspire healing and progress toward a more just, merciful, and equal society. We aim to hear from people who have been on the frontlines of issues around race and can also speak about how faith impacts their work, their personal resiliency, and their hopes for humanity.