The John Lewis Good Trouble Questionnaire
Shaneha Sotomayor, Charles County Assistant Principal
Shaneha Sotomayor makes good trouble for the Education Association of Charles County. She’s a member of MSEA’s current Minority Leadership Training Program.
What do you love the most about public schools? I THRIVE in any setting where I can develop and nurture strong relationships with diverse individuals.
What issues agitate you most about public schools? Negative social media too often tries to define schools. We need to work together as the metaphorical village to take the narrative back.
Who is your activist hero? Jason Reynolds. His novel Stamped inspired organizing teachers and students to fight antiracism in education through the St. Charles Advancement of Antiracist Education (SCAARE).
Who are your best activist buddies? Why? The core members of SCAARE, especially former media specialist Polly Callahan. She and I presented our journey of antiracism advocacy at the Maryland Association of School Librarians conference in 2023.
When did you first realize you had power and that your voice truly matters? I took a risk during the Covid shutdown and invited our diverse staff to a call to discuss the racial and political implications of George Floyd’s murder, including its effect on students. More than 50 staff members attended and deeply courageous conversations took place.
What’s your favorite way to make good trouble? Being the voice for those who are either afraid or silenced.
What is your favorite activist t-shirt?
What do you wish more members knew about getting involved in their local or MSEA? The union is what YOU make of it. Being an agent of change is what mobilizes any organization where the rights and protections of employees are prioritized.
What song gives you strength to fight for education justice? Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright.”
What keeps you doing this work when it’s hard? Observing previous students become educators.
When you work so hard for your cause, self care is important. How do you take care of yourself? Spending time with my three children. Whether it’s watching a scary movie, trying a new recipe, or taking a spontaneous road trip—it recharges me!
What’s the best time you had making good trouble? Participating in the Team Harmony We Have a Dream Action Institute and Rally in Tulsa, OK during the 100- year anniversary of the Black Wall Street Massacre. Our team of six high school students and four educators worked with teams from across the nation to collaborate, speak, advocate, march, and promote racial justice in our educational system.
What current campaign or issue is at the top of your radar? I will continue to push for antiracist education in our schools, despite whatever political agenda may exist to erase the truth of our nation’s history— past, present, and future.
What one thing do you wish elected leaders and the public understood about your job? The us versus them mentality begins to crumble when we share the experience and the work it takes to support our students. The top-down political agenda-driven practices need to cease.
What is your vision for public education? Public school education should not be burdened with the agenda of a political party or self-interest group. Nurturing minds on a platform of transparency and truth must be protected.