By Hywania Thompson | Photography by Hillary Schave
Rachelle Stone is driven by a desire to create experiences she didn’t have as a student — in K-12 and as an undergrad at UW-Madison.
Stone says she had few teachers of color, and Black history was rarely discussed outside of Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“I was very much immersed in white supremacy culture, and white teachers and experiences that were harmful across my education,” Stone says.
“I feel like my calling is creating conditions and pushing back and being in spaces with folks who want to do similar work.”
In her role as an instructional coach at Leopold Elementary School in Madison, Stone supports teachers with curriculum, culture and cultivating relationships with families. The goal, she says, is to ensure the best outcomes for students.
“… It’s about what are our outcomes for Black and brown students, knowing that when we have good outcomes and conditions that make school feel like a safe space for Black and brown students, then it becomes a similar space for all students,” says Stone.
In addition to her role at Leopold, Stone is the program coordinator for Black Girl Magic Educational Services, an organization providing programming and mentoring opportunities to Black girls.
Stone will complete her master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies in August as part of the Madison Metropolitan School District’s (MMSD) first District Leadership Preparation Pipeline cohort. The program is a collaboration between MMSD and UW-Madison.
This year, she’ll support Black Girl Magic in its efforts to expand its after-school groups — notably to middle schools — across Dane County and create partnerships to increase funding. She hopes to revive the Black Educators Network, which supports Black educators in the Madison area.
“Every person belongs to somebody … those that are students in Madison, girls that are in Black Girl Magic — those are people that we come across every single day,” Stone says.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
“… Find your people … that will validate and affirm who you are as a Black girl and provide opportunities to show up as [your] most authentic self.”
