MAEC Internship – Allegra Kogan
Meet Allegra Kogan, MAEC Communications Team Intern! We have been lucky to have a thriving internship program with dedicated, enthusiastic interns who share our passion for education equity. We recently sat down with Allegra to learn more about her commitment to education equity and her highlights as an intern at MAEC.
Tell us about yourself!
Hello! My name is Allegra Kogan (she/hers). I am a queer, Jewish, woman of color from The Bronx, New York. I earned my BA in English with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies from Davidson College in 2018. Following graduation, I joined Teach for America in Charlotte, North Carolina and taught as a middle grades English Language Arts teacher for 3.5 years. Currently, I am on educational leave from teaching as I pursue my M.Ed in Educational Leadership from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. I am also happily a Communications Intern at MAEC!
In my free time you can catch me reading, cooking, working out, listening to true crime podcasts (I definitely recommend Rotten Mango with Stephanie Soo!), and talking with family and friends.
Why do you choose to work in education equity?
How can I not work in education equity given the blessings I have been afforded throughout my academic career?
I was raised by a single mom who never graduated college. My mom made sure that I knew a college education was my birthright…she just didn’t have the money or knowledge to send me. Thankfully, in my junior year of high school I was introduced to the scholarship organization QuestBridge. QuestBridge helped change the trajectory of my life. I was given free SAT prep tutoring, a laptop, assistance with visiting colleges and universities, personal statement workshops, etc. Without QuestBridge’s investment in me, I highly doubt I would have made it into and succeeded at Davidson.
Every student and family deserve to be invested in: to have environments that educate them fully, and support as they create and achieve their unique academic and life goals. I could not have gotten to where I am today without the support of others. I believe it is my responsibility that the work I do uplifts students and families as they forge their own paths.
What does education equity mean to you?
Educational equity goes beyond school itself into a society that values and invests in education for all. Race, religion, socioeconomic background, ability status, gender identity, and sexual orientation are all aspects of identity that should not inhibit one’s ability to succeed in an equitable educational system. Educational equity means ensuring each child has everything they need to learn, along with the tools to do so, to ultimately give them an equitable shot at creating the life they want post-graduation.
What do you do as an intern at MAEC?
I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work on so many different projects at MAEC! As an intern I’ve created content across our social media channels, collaborated on resource lists for different heritage months, modified and edited professional learning opportunities to create asynchronous modules, collaborated on MAEC statements…the list goes on!
What has been a highlight of your experience at MAEC so far?
Professionally, I have never been made to feel like “just an intern.” From proposing and then creating a spotlight series on the MAEC Instagram, to researching the best learning management systems for future modules, my ideas have been valued and encouraged. I am given the opportunity to learn and grow while still feeling like an important member of the team…and I know the work I do indirectly impacts the achievement of educational equity!
Personally, I appreciate that I’m able to “be a human” at MAEC. With the recent shootings in Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX my heart has been heavy. The Communications Team has offered me a space for processing, understanding, and a sense of solidarity. I can confidently say that I am able to be authentically me at MAEC.
How do you see this internship factoring into your work after MAEC?
This internship has shown me that my previous experiences as a teacher and current experience as a graduate student in Educational Leadership are valuable in informing educational equity and community-focused work. As of right now, I would like to continue working towards ending educational inequity through the non-profit sphere. Regardless of where I go in my career, MAEC has given me tools that I will use moving forward!
