North Kent News

It's time to meet another member of KSSN's Board of Directors!

Meet Aarie Wade, serving her second year on the KSSN Board. Aarie is a graduate of Creston High School, holds a Master's of Social Work from Western Michigan University, and is the Director of Education at Baxter Community Center. Aarie currently serves on the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education, is Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children's Western Chapter Member at Large, and is a Trustee for Camp Roger, along with a number of other committees and initiatives. In 2019, Aarie founded the Black Book Exchange Box, a nonprofit organization that makes Black and Brown literature more accessible in Grand Rapids neighborhoods. She is also a regular presenter at local and national-level early childhood conferences, and lobbies annually at the Capitol in D.C. for early childhood education and equitable pay for teachers.

When asked why she supports KSSN and the community school model, Aarie says, "As a GRPS parent at Southwest Community Campus, I had firsthand experience of KSSN's impact.  Community School Coordinators bring it all full circle when we consider a holistic approach to addressing the needs of students. When I got the opportunity to serve as Trustee, I was honored to represent an organization whose work I truly believe in."

Thank you, Aarie, for all that you do. You have a true passion for making education equitable and high-quality for everyone. We recognize and celebrate the value that you bring to our Board through your lived experiences, your knowledge and expertise, and your commitment to the community! 

For a listing of the other members of our Board of Directors, visit our website at kentssn.org/community-schools/board-of-directors/.

#kentssn #kentssncares #CommunitySchools

Original source can be found here.