March 30, 2019, DCAESJ Anti-Bias Education Working Group session with a focus on teaching about the environment. Special guests: Julie Olsen Edwards and Maurice Sykes. Location: Halcyon Arts Lab.Maurice Sykes and Julie Olsen Edwards
Maurice Sykes (February 17, 1945 – March 29, 2025) was a fiercely dedicated advocate for young children and early childhood educators.
As anyone who ever spent even just a few minutes in his presence found out, Maurice’s energy, joy, sharp analysis, wit, love of life, curiosity, playfulness, humor, creativity, scholarship, dedication, forthright opinions, vision, and more filled up every room he entered.
Our staff at Teaching for Change had the pleasure of working with Maurice for decades, and our offices were next door for about five years. Our first collaboration was when Maurice was the assistant superintendent for the DCPS Center for Systemic Change. When we coordinated Rethinking Columbus workshops around the country, Maurice ensured Washington, D.C., was on the list.
We ran teacher summer institutes on multicultural education for the Center in the mid-1990s. Maurice was instrumental in our partnership with Howard University and DCPS on the DC Area Writing Project, the D.C. location for the National Writing Project. Maurice co-directed D.C. VOICE, a school reform project housed at Teaching for Change. When he ran the creative early childhood program at UDC, we created a companion website to showcase the arts integration. We hosted his book event at Busboys and Poets forDoing the Right Thing for Children: Eight Qualities of Leadership.
In between those formal collaborations were the impromptu, thought-provoking conversations about picture books, D.C. politics, and the state of the world.
He touched and inspired so many people that his legacy will continue. In his memory, we must redouble our efforts for equity in early childhood education and environmental justice.
Maurice Sykes ¡Presente!
Maurice Sykes (February 17, 1945 – March 29, 2025) was a fiercely dedicated advocate for young children and early childhood educators.
As anyone who ever spent even just a few minutes in his presence found out, Maurice’s energy, joy, sharp analysis, wit, love of life, curiosity, playfulness, humor, creativity, scholarship, dedication, forthright opinions, vision, and more filled up every room he entered.
Our staff at Teaching for Change had the pleasure of working with Maurice for decades, and our offices were next door for about five years. Our first collaboration was when Maurice was the assistant superintendent for the DCPS Center for Systemic Change. When we coordinated Rethinking Columbus workshops around the country, Maurice ensured Washington, D.C., was on the list.
We ran teacher summer institutes on multicultural education for the Center in the mid-1990s. Maurice was instrumental in our partnership with Howard University and DCPS on the DC Area Writing Project, the D.C. location for the National Writing Project. Maurice co-directed D.C. VOICE, a school reform project housed at Teaching for Change. When he ran the creative early childhood program at UDC, we created a companion website to showcase the arts integration. We hosted his book event at Busboys and Poets for Doing the Right Thing for Children: Eight Qualities of Leadership.
In between those formal collaborations were the impromptu, thought-provoking conversations about picture books, D.C. politics, and the state of the world.
He touched and inspired so many people that his legacy will continue. In his memory, we must redouble our efforts for equity in early childhood education and environmental justice.
Posted: April 9, 2025