Leadership ISD Heroes: Jarad J. Davis ('18)

Across Texas, our Leadership ISD COVID Heroes continue their commitment to equity and excellence for our students. Their commitment inspires us to continue to lean into this work, knowing that while the road ahead is long, the destination is worth our time and energy. Check out this week's LISD Heroes below!

Jarad J. Davis

Harris County, Class of 2018

Director - Wraparound Services, Houston ISD

LISD: WHAT ARE YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION CURRENTLY DOING TO RESPOND TO COVID-19?

Jarad Davis (JD): Houston ISD Wraparound Services is responding to COVID-19 by supporting students and their families who have been affected by the pandemic. Wraparound Resource Specialists have been checking in with students and connecting families to needs that include, but have not been limited to, food insecurity, rental assistance, technology access, and mental health services. As a result of school closures due to the pandemic, Wraparound Services urgently extended its support from 140 campuses to all 280 HISD campuses.

Additionally, specialists have been responding to Student Assistance Forms (SAFs), which are submitted on behalf of students and families that are facing critical circumstances and have major needs. In response to the need, evident from the thousands of SAFs that came in, ProUnitas made a significant financial donation to HISD Wraparound Services to provide support for families during this unprecedented time. Wraparound Services have been on the front lines of meeting the non-academic needs of students and their families facing challenges.

LISD:  HOW HAS LEADERSHIP ISD PREPARED YOU FOR THIS MOMENT?

JD: Leadership ISD prepared me to act and lead during this time by providing access to a network of passionate professionals and titans of their various fields. I’ve had the opportunity to work directly with several Leadership ISD alumni who have provided their expertise, insight, and connections. The circumstances have been unfortunate, but it has been an amazing experience to collaborate with those who truly care about equity.

Leadership ISD also prepared me to act by equipping me with the knowledge and understanding of the inequities that plagued systems prior to COVID-19. As I have stated to whoever asks, "This pandemic didn't create inequities. This pandemic exacerbated inequities." We may all be in the same storm, but we're not all in the same boat. Leadership ISD provided the experience for me to have an acute understanding of what gaps need to be filled in order to create successful pipelines for all children.

LISD: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INVOLVED? 

JD: Equity is my passion. I have always been an advocate for ensuring opportunities and pathways to success for all. I have experienced how bias and systemic racism can hinder growth at best and lead to decay at worst. Therefore, I am always looking for opportunities to learn and have a voice.

LISD: WHY IS WHAT YOU’RE DOING ESSENTIAL TO PUBLIC EDUCATION? 

JD: What I am doing is essential to the work within public education because I am literally setting the vision and leading a department to meet the non-academic needs of one of the largest school districts in the country. I don't say that with ego or pride. I say that as an humble reflection that I didn’t make it to where I am on my own, and I can not lead this department where it needs to go on my own. We, in Wraparound Services, have a charge to remove the unfair barriers that impede the progress toward self-actualization.

LISD:  HOW HAS COVID-19 AFFECTED YOUR VIEWS ON HOW WE ADVOCATE MOVING FORWARD?

JD: COVID-19 has further ignited my views on how we advocate moving forward. This pandemic has merely highlighted, for the world, the issues that were already leading to inequitable opportunities and outcomes. What we are currently experiencing has underscored the need to continue advocating for children.

LISD: WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO OTHERS WHO WANT TO TAKE ACTION IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS? 

JD: My advice to those who are looking to act during this time is to support with humility. I always tell the Wraparound Resource Specialists, "You are not a savior. You are a servant." True support can only lead to beneficial longterm outcomes if we act with others' humanity in mind, not with condescension or superiority complexes.

LISD: WHAT CAN OTHERS DO TO EITHER SUPPORT YOUR WORK OR GET ENGAGED?

JD: There is so much that is needed to continue to support the work of Wraparound Services. If you have the means to provide a financial donation, we need you. If you run or work at an organization that can provide resources, we need you. If you provide an essential service at this time, we need you. If you have the ability to connect us to partners who have a desire to serve our most vulnerable students and families, we need you. Anyway you feel you can contribute to helping us meet the non-academic needs of HISD students, please feel free to reach out to me.

For more information on Houston ISD’s Wraparound Services, visit them at https://www.houstonisd.org/wraparound