Message from the Dean: December 2024
Dear SOE Billiken Alums,
As we wrap up the fall semester, Fitzgerald Hall will soon be quiet during the holiday season. This pause in the flurry of activity allows time to reflect on the past semester and the start of the School of Education’s 100th year!
As I think about the impact of our school over the past century, I think of one of our STL Teaching Fellows, Orlondo Williams. A St. Louis native who graduated from Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, Orlondo told me that when he applied for SLU, he was excited and a bit surprised to imagine himself as a SLU student. While I was thrilled to hear his excitement, I was reminded of the sad fact that many St. Louis young people do not see SLU as a place where they belong.
Orlondo was grateful that we considered him “SLU-material.” I think this is backward; instead, we should be grateful that Orlondo Williams chose SLU and was willing to share his brilliance and his energy with us in the School of Education!
During our 100-Year Celebration kick-off event in September during Homecoming Weekend, Orlondo gave an impassioned speech to our community. Knowing all the ways that we at SLU and in the SOE are imperfect and have not always had a positive impact, I was humbled to hear Orlondo speak so glowingly about SLU’s reputation. To be honest, I am not sure we have YET lived up to the reputation that he ascribed to us.
In his remarks, Orlondo shared,
“As we kick off the 100-year celebration of the School of Education, we reflect not only on SLU’s incredible legacy but also on its bold, forward-thinking approach to meeting the needs of our community. The Saint Louis Teaching Fellows has been a beacon of innovation for the past four years. I am a proud member of cohort four. Out of the 10 of us in the cohort, five are Black men, and we are all serving in inner-city schools. This is not by accident, but by design. SLU understands that our students need educators who look like them, who understand their lived experiences, and who can tell them they are not the exception, but that they are the expectation.
And through all of this, I have grown into a constant learner because of SLU. Every time I step into Fitzgerald Hall, I know I’m going to leave with something new to add to my treasure chest, ready to pour back into my scholars. When I stand before my students, I proudly share with them my college experience, reminding them that learning never stops. It’s because of the School of Education that I — and so many others — have the tools to continue shaping a better world through education.”
I took Orlondo’s words as a call that we must work every day to earn the trust of the community and live up to the reputation of the SLU that Orlondo Williams described.
In this issue, we focus on our community outreach by sharing information about our new partnership with St. Louis Catholic Academy to support middle school education. We also highlight our 10-year collaboration with partner schools in Belize. And finally, we honor the good work that our faculty and staff are doing through our faculty and staff awards.
I wish you peace, joy, and time to relax with family and friends during this season of reflection. Please do not hesitate to let us know if there are ways that we can support you better or communicate with you more effectively. We look forward to seeing you on campus next year!
Best wishes,
Gary W. Ritter, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Education