Elementary school teacher Mary Thundercloud of the Ho-Chunk Nation wanted to teach on a reservation but found a need for her teaching in the Milwaukee Public Schools.
“I believe urban children need a great teacher and that I can make a difference for children of color,” said Thundercloud, who hopes to someday open a school for Ho-Chunk children.
Her desire to help those out of the mainstream has led her to teach in Milwaukee for 20 years and to participate in a new Ph.D. program at UW-Madison that aims to prepare school leaders who can close a persistent achievement gap for low-income students and racial minorities.