Miles to Go: Reflections from the 2025 SEF Issues Forum
By Dr. Kenita T. Williams, Chief Operating Officer, Southern Education Foundation
As I reflect on the 2025 SEF Issues Forum, I’m filled with gratitude, both for the history that brought us together and the hope that carried us forward. Held in New Orleans under the theme Miles to Go: The Road to Education Justice, our time together was a reminder of why this work matters and why we can’t slow down now.
Rooted in Legacy
We began where the journey toward education opportunity in the South is both remembered and still unfolding: at the Tate, Etienne, and Prevost (TEP) Center. Standing in what was once McDonogh 19 Elementary, we honored the courage of Leona Tate, Gail Etienne, and the late Tessie Prevost, young Black girls who, at just six years old, helped desegregate public schools in New Orleans. Their story reminded us that education justice is not abstract. It’s personal, it’s lived, and it’s courageous.
Focused on the Now
Over the next two days, we moved through hard conversations and forward-thinking solutions, examining the inequities that persist in early childhood, K-12, and higher education across the South. We talked about the ongoing dismantling of federal oversight in education, the growing reliance on state-level leadership, and what that means for our most under-resourced school systems. We heard from policy experts, district leaders, parents, students and advocates who are asking tough questions and helping us all imagine better answers.
At SEF, we’re proud that this work isn’t just reactive; it’s strategic. We shared data and recommendations from our recent research. We uplifted stories from our Equity Assistance Center-South, which continues to provide technical support to school districts navigating civil rights compliance. And we connected leaders who are designing solutions rooted in local wisdom, shared accountability, and a deep belief in the power of public education.
Committed to the Future
What I’ll carry with me most is the clarity and commitment that emerged across every plenary, breakout, and hallway conversation. This Forum reminded us that we have work to do, yes, but we’re not doing it alone.
From investing in school board leadership to reimagining how we fund early learning, SEF is committed to advancing justice at every level. And as we look toward 2026, we’ll continue to lift up data, storytelling, and bold partnerships as tools to drive change.
The road ahead is long. But the people I met in New Orleans gave me hope. Because when we walk this road together, the miles feel a little more manageable and the future a whole lot brighter.
A Note of Gratitude
I am deeply grateful to every participant, to the scholars who came ready with data, to the community leaders who shared their lived experience, to the policymakers wrestling with trade-offs, and to the young leaders who reminded us why this work matters.
Above all, we remain committed to SEF’s mission: to advance educational opportunity in the South through policy advocacy, research, technical assistance to build capacity, and leadership development that will result in every student, regardless of background, attaining a high-quality education that propels them toward the opportunity-rich life they deserve.