Her Story
About June
I did teacher training in Jamaica, the Caribbean island where I'm a native, and came to New York wanting to switch careers and do journalism and law. But I was redirected by my daughter entering school, and I decided to continue in education because I wanted to be educated about the system here and how I could help and support my daughter to enjoy learning. The joy of learning is a big deal for me. I entered Teachers College, Columbia University and did a master's in special education, which was an amazing experience. I worked in Harlem for about 5 or 6 years, then went back to the Bronx when charter schools were just coming into being. When it was time for my daughter to enter the school system, I took a much closer look and realized I was really dissatisfied with what was available in my own community in the Bronx, so I started homeschooling her. That's how the school came to be founded. My friends started asking where my daughter was going and saw she was thriving beautifully, so they asked me to take their children too. I often share with people that I had more passion than sense, because I took in my friend's children and before long I had 75 kids in my living room in the Bronx. I reached out to the Department of State and they sent me a single-spaced, double-page itemized list, and I worked my way through it. We transitioned from my home to another site and stayed there for a while. After COVID, things really disintegrated, and we're in a smaller setting now. I'm very committed to doing this program in the Bronx and having our children feel a sense of success in their own community. They've been getting into independent schools without having to do the additional burden of prep programs, which I find especially burdensome for children of color because their schools don't necessarily provide the foundation to enter those programs without very burdensome prep. I didn't want that for my daughter, and I've been doing it for a small group of children here in the Bronx, and they've been thriving beautifully.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with June
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the fabulous childhood that I had with my grandparents, who affirmed me every step of the way and made me feel as if I was just the most amazing reader in the world. They showed me a lot of love, and I'm able to do the same for my child and grandchild and any other child who comes across my path. I think the home environment and the community in which I grew up made me feel that giving back is something that is honorable and worthwhile and meaningful.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say follow your passion. Just don't be afraid of really pursuing your passion. It's going to lead to a kind of enlightenment that you'll definitely appreciate.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The opportunities are in my own community, and those opportunities have to be cultivated. It's also the other side of the challenges, because that's where resources are generally not as available, not as accessible, and not of high quality. It's the two sides of those coins - where the opportunities are, the challenges are right next to them, abreast.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, joy, and kindness are most important to me. I'm always thinking about the person within that space. Especially if I'm having a moment of joy, even if it's just enjoying fruit, I'd love to know that someone else who loves fruit also gets to enjoy that opportunity.
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