Presenters: Lindsay Cherry (Assistant Principal at WOHS) and Henry Cherry
Title: The School to Prison Pipeline

Description: Our Black and Brown students need us to focus on the issue of the school-to-prison pipeline, through which Black and Brown students are pushed out of our public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. There are many ways in which we can support this group of students and guide them towards success. This presentation will offer research and strategies for how we can all work together to end the School to Prison Pipeline.

Bios: Henry and Lindsay Cherry grew up in the West Michigan area and have raised their 5 children in Holland for the last 10 years. They are very involved in their community and have been doing work to build a more inclusive and welcoming community including but not limited to the creation of I AM Academy.

Henry Cherry is the Director of Outreach at Christ Memorial Church and is currently working toward his Master’s Degree. He has been involved in his community as a coach, mentor, school administrator, and more. His passion is to break down the barriers within our society and open up the world of possibilities for our youth. Henry primarily serves underserved youth, gang members, and juveniles. He created mentorship programs at Holland Public Schools and served students at West Ottawa Public Schools. As he helps youth find their way, he hopes the work transforms them into leaders who are ready to go make a positive change in our world.

Lindsay Cherry is a passionate educator with over 9 years of experience in education as a Middle School English Teacher and is currently one of the Assistant Principals at West Ottawa High School. She educates, promotes, and advocates for closing the achievement gap for African-American students and for the creation of a more inclusive environment in which ALL students can learn and be successful. Lindsay obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Cornerstone University and is certified to teach grades K - 12. She earned her Master’s Degree in the Art of Teaching with an Endorsement in ESL through Aquinas College and recently earned her second Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership through Grand Canyon University. 
For more information: https://iamacademymi.org/our-story/
https://www.secondwavemedia.com/lakeshore/features/black_advocacy.aspx