When starting a womens leadership group at school, there are some things you should do. For instance, if you don’t already have one, start by creating a regular weekly schedule. Include activities like GirlTip Monday, TEDTalk Tuesday, Women In Leadership Wednesday, Think Tank Thursday, sustained silent reading, and a semester-long group project or research project. You can also include things like Bookend Friday and sustained silent reading on Fridays.
Bijani’s background as a teacher
Bijani Gibson credits her mentor for making education her vocation, and believes that strong female leadership will change schools for the better. Bijani has a BA in English from Princeton University and an MA in English Literature from King’s College London. Before becoming a teacher, she worked as a fashion writer and journalist in London, and then in book publishing in New York. She enjoys going to Zumba classes, watching West African dance, and reading British mystery novels with her husband.
Karen’s background as a teacher
In the early 1980s, Karen Symms Gallagher was a doctoral student in education administration, and spent a decade climbing the K-12 district ladder in her native Washington state. She served as a middle school social studies teacher, PE teacher, women’s basketball coach, and assistant principal. As the first woman in her family to earn a college degree, Gallagher started thinking about the possibility of being a school superintendent.
Karen values education. Children in Karen villages attend school until they are five years old, but some may start as young as 10 years old. Schooling is not compulsory for Karen children, and if they start early, they may have to help their parents in the fields. Armies often threaten Karen villages, so school may be disrupted. After finishing school, Karen women typically marry and are responsible for their aging parents.
Bijani’s background as a leader
Bijani Gibson’s passion for education was fueled by mentorship. She believes that strong female leadership will help transform schools. Bijani holds an MA and BA in English Literature from Princeton University and has worked as a fashion and travel writer in London and Mongolia. She also enjoys taking Zumba and West African dance classes and reading British murder mysteries with her husband.
