‘I’ve always had a passion for DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion], even before I knew the term.’

April Francis, Massapequa

“I’m proud to call myself a Caribbean-American, with familial roots stretching back to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Jamaica. My father, a retired chef who owned a restaurant, introduced me to mouth-watering Caribbean delicacies like johnnycakes, cornmeal porridge and jerk chicken.

“Education was another fundamental aspect of my upbringing, and my family migrated to the United States for better opportunities. This inspired me and my siblings to pursue higher education, and thanks to my family’s support, I hold a bachelor of arts, master of arts, postgraduate certificate of advanced studies in educational leadership, and [am] currently pursuing a doctorate in education policy at Hofstra University.

“As an educator, I’ve always had a passion for DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion], even before I knew the term. Presently, I am the director of DEI at Eastern Suffolk BOCES and an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University’s School of Professional Development. I aim to ensure students feel valued in their school communities, with access, support and opportunities to excel equitably.

When we build schools that embrace diversity, equity and inclusion, we remove barriers, and every student feels a sense of belonging.

“As the director of DEI, I’m thrilled to partner with fellow educators to implement this framework and positively impact future generations. Of course, change doesn’t happen overnight, as disability activist Judith Heumann so eloquently put it. It takes years of strategizing, sharing and pulling all the levers we can, but suddenly, something tips.

“Some days, I wish we could change things overnight, but I know that creating access for the most vulnerable and marginalized students paves the way for a more inclusive environment where every child can thrive, just like the curb-cut effect concept.

“When we build schools that embrace diversity, equity and inclusion, we remove barriers, and every student feels a sense of belonging. I just want to give all students opportunities to succeed and the same support and love my family gave to me after traveling here to America.”

Interviewed by Starr Fuentes