Skip to content
Explore the Anchors for Equity
Co-design

Milwaukee Public Schools

Theopa Tolbert,
Induction and Support Manager

Dr. Patricia A. Ellis,
Director, Department of Equity, Access, and Inclusion

Ebony Lewis,
Director, Gender Identity and Inclusion

Co-design

Co-design systems to sustain equity

For this Profile in Practice, we hear from three Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) educators who are committed to establishing and sustaining equitable experiences and environments for the district’s students and educators. First we hear from Theopa Tolbert. Theopa manages the district’s Induction and Support programs. In partnership with numerous institutes of higher education in southeastern Milwaukee and around the state of Wisconsin, Theopa’s programs are responsible for over 1,000 pre-service placements in MPS schools for field experience students, student teachers, and clinical placements.

Second, we hear from Dr. Patricia Ellis. Patricia leads the MPS Department of Equity, Access, and Inclusion with staff, students, families, and community stakeholders to build a welcoming and inclusive culture that embraces and respects all humanity and relationships.

Lastly, we hear from Ebony Lewis, director of the MPS Gender Identity and Inclusion Department. This department develops targeted supports for girls of color and students who identify as LGBTQ+ and implements programs and initiatives to support students, guide staff, and inform district planning and decision-making.

“Over time we have come to understand that equity includes so many different areas, so many different lenses. Not just cultural, but instructional, staffing, making sure that our staff is ready and capable so that we can do the best that we can possibly do for our students.” –Theopa Tolbert, Milwaukee Public Schools Induction and Support Manager

Milwaukee Public Schools Equity Guidebook

In this video, you will hear Theopa, Dr. Ellis and Ebony reference the district’s Equity Guidebook. In June 2021, MPS published its equity guidebook to support educators in creating aligned student-centered learning environments. Here, you can access the guidebook, which includes important context related to the development of this resource and why it was necessary.