A project of the Henderson School Parent Council featuring articles that uplift and celebrate the people who help make our school community great. If you want to get involved, or have ideas for stories, please email Roy at roylincolnkarp@gmail.com.
Meet the Teacher: Ms. Fortes
As part of the SPC’s “Henderson Stories” project, Nykiya Smith interviewed Ms. Natasha Fortes, an inspiring math teacher who has also coached the high school dance team and taught classes in leadership class and the History of Hip Hop and R&B, among the many ways she has supported Henderson students. Click here to see the complete interview.
Akira Smith, Class of ‘25, is a strong leader, enjoys working with kids, and wants to go to law school
by Roy Lincoln Karp
Like many Henderson parents, I first encountered Akira Smith during Governing Board meetings held on Zoom. As an elected student rep, she has consistently demonstrated her leadership skills and the courage to speak her mind. She said she “learns something new at every meeting,” but sometimes feels like she’s stuck in the middle when conversations get contentious.
Akira loves the Henderson school because it feels like a community and “it’s not cliquey.” Students generally get along with one another even when they are not best friends. She also feels the teachers are dedicated and supportive. She took AP African American studies last year and is now taking two AP courses. Her favorite is AP Language Arts with Ms. Falco, which she finds challenging but not overwhelming. The teacher “moves at a good pace, so it’s a chill last period of the day.”
Akira has been a leader in many ways beyond her role on the Governing Board. Through her Student Leadership elective, she is further honing her communication and conflict resolution skills. She is also a paid Peer Leader in the after school program at Upper Campus and has enjoyed this opportunity to work with the younger kids. And this was not her first time working with children; she has also worked as a peer leader at the West End Boys & Girls Club in Brighton.
She got a taste of college life through the dual enrollment program at Bunker Hill Community College, where she took Introduction to Business. Her final project explored the ethical and financial impact of “fast fashion,” which often relies on exploitation of workers in overseas sweatshops.
While only a junior, Akira is thinking ahead to life after high school. She would like to attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) before returning to Boston to attend law school. She is particularly interested in Suffolk University, where she attended a debate competition in fifth grade. After law school, she would like to be a public defender, but in ten years she sees herself doing business litigation.
“My dad said that one day, I could be a Supreme Court Justice,” she explains. “But I told him, ‘No, I would rather be President of the United States.’” The country could certainly use someone with Akira’s integrity and values. For now, we can appreciate her leadership at the Henderson Inclusion School.
April 24, 2024
Henderson Inclusion K12 