We are thrilled to share that Bob Peterson, co-founder of Rethinking Schools and member of the editorial board and Board of Directors, has been honored with the Tony Baez Lifetime Achievement Award by the Wisconsin Association for Bilingual Education (WIABE).
This distinguished award recognizes a lifetime of advocacy, organizing, and transformative work in support of bilingual education and educational justice. It is especially meaningful coming from WIABE, the state’s leading association for protecting and promoting bilingual education. It is named after Tony Baez, who, for over 50 years, has promoted and supported bilingual education. He is a former Vice President of the Milwaukee Public Schools Board, a former member of the Executive Committee of the Wisconsin Association of School Board Members, and a former Executive Director of Centro Hispano Milwaukee. In his name, the Wisconsin Association for Bilingual Education annually offers the “Tony Baez Leadership and Advocacy Award.”
In his acceptance speech, Bob reflected on his decades of activism alongside Tony Baez, from the early fights in the 1970s for bilingual school funding to collaboration on the Milwaukee School Board. Their collective work has always centered on the rights of immigrant communities and public school students.
During his speech, Bob reminded the audience of an important message: The challenges of this moment can, and must, be met with collective action. Reflecting on the harms of the administration and the threats to public education, he offered important reflection questions:
What will we do to defeat the dangers?
What can we do as educators?
What can we do as citizens and residents to protect our democracy?
He closed his remarks with the words of organizers who have inspired him:
“Don’t mourn, organize.” – Joe Hill
“Sí, se puede.” – Cesar Chavez
Please join us in celebrating this incredible recognition of Bob’s lifelong commitment to educational justice.