Dean Elizabeth Moje speaks with WDET’s Stephen Henderson on Detroit Today
Moje joined fellow experts to discuss the inequities the pandemic exacerbated, and how to break down barriers that have long existed in education.

Along with Dr. Tabitha Bentley, director of policy for Education Trust-Midwest, and James Kinsey, principal of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in South Redford, MI, SOE Dean Elizabeth Moje spoke with WDET’s Stephen Henderson on Detroit Today about the challenges students of color and low-income students face in Michigan. Although there has long been a disparity in the resources available to these students, the pandemic laid bare the disadvantage that creates.
Dr. Bentley noted that virtual learning highlighted the inequities that low-income students face, particularly access to technology.
Dean Moje said that equitable resource distribution means accounting for opportunity gaps rather than treating every student equally. In addition, she told Henderson, “We need a far better, well-prepared, diverse teaching force. And we need to support teachers … Teachers need support resources. Teachers need more training than ever before. Teachers need to be paid more.”