Micah Hyde

The Gap

Visual representation of the movement from educational institutions to the prison industrial complexPBS - Carla AmuraoMillions of students are affected by discrepancies and dichotomies in the public education system.  Lower-performing students are pushed out of classrooms and left to funnel down the school-to-prison pipeline and be exposed to neglect and violence.  What it has to come down to is improving the k-12 public education system.  Advocates and community members work hard in encouraging politicians and the people in power to challenge the system and make curriculum changes that are much more inclusive to all diverse bodies.

Micah Hyde

Specifically, many individuals publicized by the media have significant influence over the general population.  One such individual is NFL football player Micah Hyde.  After playing for the Green Bay Packers for 4 years, he accepted a contract to play for the Buffalo Bills for the 2017-2018 season.  Before leaving, however, he did significant work to demonstrate leadership and opportunity.  Hyde, specifically, would work with the Milwaukee Public Schools to spread sportsmanship and align with programs to enforce MPS’s Eight Big Ideas initiative.

Former Green Bay Packers safety Micah Hyde speaks to Riverside University High School studentsMilwaukee Public SchoolsIn late November of 2016, Hyde visited Riverside University High School to discuss these ideas of sportsmanship and leadership.  He wanted to encourage all students to adopt a Triple-Impact Competitor (TIC) mindset.  This idea takes into consideration the three large aspects that Hyde himself participates in and would like high school students to implement, not only in sports and extra-curricular activities, but in their classes as well (MPS, 2016).  The three components include:

1. Improving one’s self and performance

2. Helping and encouraging others through positive reinforcement

3. Demonstrating respect for all opponents, competitors, teammates, rules and officials

The Eight Big Ideas

Along with the work he did speaking at schools and spreading his TIC mindset, Hyde aligned and supported the Boston Store and MPS partnership to spread the Eight Big Ideas initiative to maximize student success.  These steps would allow students to succeed academically as well as engage more in their communities to become more well rounded students.  The three main components include academic achievement, student/family/community engagement, and effective and efficient operations.  To fully implement these steps there are 8 subcategories for for effective results.  These subcategories embody:

1. Close the gap

2. Educate the whole child

3. Redefine the MPS experience

4. Rethink high schools

5. Re-envision partnerships

6. Strengthen communications and outreach strategies

7. Develop our workforce

8. Improve organizational processes

MPS administrators from the top 8 high schools recognized nationally by the Washington’s Post and US NewsMilwaukee Public SchoolsConclusion

When students of color and lower performing students are slowly pushed out of their school environments, the system has allowed a predisposition to develop in which these students are inherently hurt by the achievement gap and thus funnel down through the school-to-prison pipeline.  Community heroes and leaders such as teachers and students challenge the dichotomies that are present in the public education system.  Other powerful individuals which use their influence for good, such as Micah Hyde, spread ideas of leadership and success to schools all over Milwaukee.