Meet Fernell Miller
"Excellence is nothing without the courage to execute it."
Fernell Miller
Founder - The Root of Us
My work as an educator spans 40 years and carries deep community trust among youth, families, educators and community members. I began as an education activist, youth advocate and community organizer as a result of my own experiences of classroom and curriculum erasure, anti-blackness and racial isolation; which began in elementary school, continued through secondary education, into college and still remain today. I rarely saw the positive representation of black identities I needed in order to see myself in the world, so after becoming an educator I returned to do just that. I came back to build in the place where I could disrupt the white narrative, while being a mirror for the Black, Brown, Indigenous and students of Color who were yearning for that representation as I did for so long.
"Excellence is nothing without the courage to execute it."
Fernell Miller
Founder - The Root of Us
My work as an educator spans 40 years and carries deep community trust among youth, families, educators and community members. I began as an education activist, youth advocate and community organizer as a result of my own experiences of classroom and curriculum erasure, anti-blackness and racial isolation; which began in elementary school, continued through secondary education, into college and still remain today. I rarely saw the positive representation of black identities I needed in order to see myself in the world, so after becoming an educator I returned to do just that. I came back to build in the place where I could disrupt the white narrative, while being a mirror for the Black, Brown, Indigenous and students of Color who were yearning for that representation as I did for so long.
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“I had to create brave spaces where I could show up with my full Identity, without apology or explaining why I needed spaces that reflect the true history of Black people; by lifting up our brilliance, beauty and the resilience of black humanity which represents who I am, and who I want to be in the world.”
FERNELL MEDIA KIT
2024 KCTS 9 2024 Golden Apple Teacher Award honors Fernell Miller for exceptional teaching and education innovation in Washington State.
You can view the 60-second news segment by clicking the image below. Feel free to share!
Direct Interview Link: https://www.kcts9.org/show/golden-apple-awards/episode/fernell-miller-6lxl5v?
Online Interviews
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Podcast: What is the Core of Public Education? With Vincent Perez and Fernell Miller
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NPR Network-KUOW: The Future Just Shifted! Interview with Fernell Miller
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Podcast: The Crisis in Education with Paul Gavoni - Racism and Inequity in Public Education
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Black Girl in Suburbia Film Documentary and Panel Discussion 2018
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Speaking Portfolio: KSER Color Commentary
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Podcast co-host: PNW All the Things! (Spotify)/All the Things—PNW on Apple Podcasts
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Podcast: League of Education Voters - What Students Need Now! (#20)
Online Webinars
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Equity Institute Webinar Series: Voice: A Black Women’s Circle Feb 14, 2022
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Equity Institute Webinar Series: Racial Healing Healing Circles and Cross-Racial Solidarity Nov 16, 2021
In-Person Speaking Engagements​
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WEA CRSJ Equity Conference 2023 - Cleveland HS
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The University of Washington Climate Panel
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Eastside Pathways Panel
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HRMS Assembly
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UW Black Local Leaders Panel
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Leadership Lunch: Help! The system isn’t working for me
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Miller, F. & Monahan, M. (2023, March). Racial Healing Circles: Racial Justice Through Deep Interracial Relational Process. The White Privilege Conference, Mesa, AZ.
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Miller, F. & Monahan, M. (2023, March). Stuff Good White People Need to Know: Ten Essentials for Racial Justice. The White Privilege Conference, Mesa, AZ.