Kamilah Bywaters
Las Vegas Alliance of Black School Educators
Las Vegas, NV USA
"Knowing that I do the tough job of putting myself out there and someone else is going to get helped, there’s nothing better than that for me."
Career Roadmap
Kamilah's work combines: Education, Entrepreneurship, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
I've experienced and witnessed multiple counts of racial discrimination throughout my career. For example, a teacher I worked with told my students that his dog was smarter than them. When I reported it, I became the target. These obstacles were the catalyst for my advocacy work. It led to my founding the Las Vegas Alliance of Black School Educators, which is dedicated to advocating for equity in schools.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Psychology
Howard University
Graduate Degree
Special Education
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Graduate Degree
Divinity
Howard University School of Divinity
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, playing soccer and dreaming of becoming a professional athlete. But life had different plans.
2.
Following in my father's footsteps, I pursued education, initially aiming to become a teacher after attending Howard University.
3.
Despite setbacks, including self-advising errors at Howard, I returned to Las Vegas and found my path through an alternative teaching program.
4.
Starting my career in special education, I faced intense challenges like discrimination which led me to question my role in the system.
5.
The struggles I witnessed and experienced, particularly the marginalization of Black teachers, fueled my passion for advocacy and activism.
6.
I founded the Las Vegas Alliance of Black School Educators as a platform to support and empower Black educators and students.
7.
My dedication to education and justice led me to pursue higher education, including a master's degree and ongoing work toward a Ph.D., all to better serve my community.
8.
Now, as I run for the Clark County School Board, I see this as the culmination of my life's work, aiming to transform Nevada's education system from within.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
My dog is smarter than your students.
How I responded:
I've experienced and witnessed multiple counts of racial discrimination throughout my career. For example, a teacher I worked with told my students that his dog was smarter than them. When I reported it, I became the target. These obstacles were the catalyst for my advocacy work. It led to my founding the Las Vegas Alliance of Black School Educators, which is dedicated to advocating for equity in schools.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I've faced racial discrimination throughout my career as an educator and I've seen other teachers face similar obstacles. Those obstacles were the catalyst for my advocacy work.