Mission Grammar Alumni shares his expertise with current staff
Our teachers returned to school being welcomed by a familiar face, Chukwuma Ekwelum (also known as Chuks), who came back after 19 years to lead our current champion teachers in their beginning of the year professional development. It was an amazing full circle moment to have a former scholar back in the halls and teaching in the same place that he once learned.
Chuks, now living in Rwanda, came back to Mission Grammar through Mirror Start, an educational consulting group that focuses their work on equity in education, working to transform educational contexts. Chuks and his colleague led a full day of professional development, historically grounding the educational work of today in order to provide a more equitable future for Mission Grammar scholars and our world.
Chuks always knew that education was in his future. Graduating from Trinity College in Hartford, gaining a Masters from Boston College, and earning his Ph.D from University of Wisconsin–Madison, his own education led him to provide training and development for teachers and school leaders and also starting his own school in Rwanda, Legacy of Excellence Academy. Working in education stateside and working school leaders through Mirror Start he has come to know that change has to come from within.
As Chuks was back in the halls at Mission Grammar, he was brought back to his time with Sr. Teresa and Sr. Vincent, the structure of the school, and the celebration of each student’s achievements. While growing up in a Christian household, his reverence for prayer and time to reflect was instilled in him during his days at Mission Grammar. His work today connects to his time in elementary school, ensuring that his own students feel that same celebration around their achievements. Mission Grammar’s mission statement also rang true for Chuks, growing up in Roxbury the school resonated with his urban identity. As a college prep school, Mission Grammar provided a counter narrative to set him on a trajectory to not only graduate from college, but to go on and earn his Ph.D.
As the day wrapped up with teachers and the Mission Grammar Alumni, he offered some advice for current MG scholars “don’t take any of this for granted! There is a long history here, generations of students who have gone before you to set a path, continue to spread peace and make the world a better place, including coming back to Mission Grammar!”
Do you know a Mission Grammar Alumni that is doing incredible things? Email us at alumni@missiongrammar.org and tell us about it!
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