By Steve Berry
“I’m the black lady that speaks in Washington,” said Erin Jones introducing herself. The icebreaking comment drew a laugh in the Little Theater. Jones is asked to speak on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday more than any other day. Jones mentioned that she was thinking of running for the Washington State superintendent schools but hasn’t decided yet. In 2013 she received a Champion of Change award from President Barrack Obama.
She artfully wove her message of equality through her personal stories of being adopted in Minnesota, growing up in the Netherlands, and going to an expensive private school. This afforded her the unique opportunity of being able to meet prominent people. She told the story of her decision to change the world. Her class sang with John Denver on stage and at the dinner following the event, Jones, sitting between John Denver and a princess, made that decision.
She talked of struggles with prejudice that she faced. Jones questioned, how can we live not caring what people think? She believes political correctness is destroying our country because the freedom to express what we really feel is necessary for having an honest conversation. The audience in the capacity filled theater seemed to connect with everything Jones said, who is Director of Equity and Achievement for the Federal Way School District. Jessica Humphries the Associated Student Council director of finance and former co-president of Shades of Color Club said, “she took the time to visit our college upon request of the students who connected with her at the Shades of Color. She exudes the light and love it takes to make a real impact on our future generations, and she is a leader who is making a name for herself nationally.”
Kate Reavey, English instructor and Coordinator of Studium Generale said in an email, “she encouraged all of us to remember that Dr. King’s legacy is important for all people and is not a legacy simply of fighting for equal rights because of race/ethnicity. Dr. King’s emphasis on equity and on the rights of all people to have an education and to be free of the shackles of poverty were central to her presentation and to the workshop that followed in the Longhouse.” The Martin Luther King Jr. presentation ended with a standing ovation. “Jones focused on King’s work to value human dignity or what Dr. King himself called ‘somebodyness,’” Reavey said.
Jones was named 2007 Most Innovative Foreign Language Teacher, and in 2008 she was selected to be the Washington State Milken Educator of the Year. She also was the Assistant State Superintendent for Student achievement for three years.
Reavey said “When we invited her to speak, and she agreed to come, she not only gave us an enormous ‘break’ (or discount) from what she is typically paid but she immediately asked, ‘Is there a middle or high school I could visit as well, during my day on the Peninsula.’ This impressed me so much, because her commitment to education and to change are palpable in all she does, in who she is.”
Jones said, “my favorite part was meeting everyone at the workshop after, and tell everyone thank you for this wonderful opportunity to meet them out on the peninsula.”