Myra Hernández is a critical pedagogist, education consultant, researcher, and curriculum developer with over 20 years of experience working with diverse student populations in grades pre-k through 12. As a curriculumdeveloper and consultant for multiple cultural institutions and schools across New York, Myra utilizes her love of education, culture, and community to create groundbreaking curricula and empowering programming that addresses issues of race, inclusion, and civic engagement. The social justice programs she developed have been featured in publications for The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Learning for Justice and The International Rescue Committee. In addition, as a facilitator for Raising Race Conscious Children, Myra works to support conversations about race between children and the adults in their lives in order to break down the legacy of racism. As a researcher, Myra has been responsible for assisting in projects that amplify the historically marginalized voices and histories of BIPOC and immigrant peoples. Most recently, with Behind the Book, a NYC-based literacy non-profit, Myra served as the literacy specialist where she spearheaded the expansion of their book catalog to prioritize literature written by diverse authors that reflect the experiences and stories of student populations served in Harlem, the South Bronx, and Washington Heights. Her experience focuses on seeking out opportunities to work with and alongside groups that aim to disrupt systems of oppression in order to move toward a more equitable and just society. Myra joins Roots ConnectED to support educators and school leaders in their journeys to foster inclusive school communities through the implementation of anti-bias and anti-racist practices, and the building of connections with the communities with whom they work with. She holds an MA in Critical Pedagogy from San Diego State University, and a BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, San Diego.