Leon Gousman & Jemmel Peck
Step Up
New London, CT

Leon Gousman and Jemmel Peck, a husband and wife pair who volunteer with the parent organizing group Step Up New London share each of their perspectives on what's going on in schools and the types of supports parents need to better navigate the system. Leon speaks on contributing his business skills to the parent run organization and helping to establish restorative justice practices in New London Schools. Jemmel shares on ways her teachers in New London failed her as a Black student, as well as the challenges she faces now as a parent trying to advocate for her own children.

" When it comes to Early Childhood Education, I feel like we are falling short. I myself struggled reading early on because I was not being engaged prior to the age of 5, an age that has been scientifically shown to be the cut-off for absorbing a larger than normal amount of data. Due to this fact I instead memorized books instead of decoding sounds/words.

It’s my belief that if we engage our babies early with decoding skills and introduce more words to them that we’d give them not only a head-start but a better chance in their overall lives. "

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