Dr. T with 12-year old Social Activist Jalen Kennedy
The school-to-prison pipeline is an epidemic that is sweeping through our nation’s education system. Instead of being sent to the principal’s office or serving detention after school, students are being expelled or arrested for minor offenses. These minor offenses, including “disrespect of staff” or “willful defiance”, are incredibly subjective and up to the will of an administration. I have teamed up with production company Topspin Content, and Executive Producer Eddie Barbini on a powerful and hard-hitting documentary that will showcase the truth that lies behind our school walls and take us into the prison cells where troubled minors end up. I am going to face the system head on by exposing the dark truth and advocating for necessary change, because too many young lives are at stake.
Throughout this six-part docu-series, we will travel the nation to sit down and have tough conversations with students who have been expelled or incarcerated. We will talk to parents, teachers, principals, school board members, officers, and court officials to truly understand every side of the problem. We will dive in and review past and current cases involving juvenile sentencing, then directly confront the various components of the system. What I intend to get from this docu-series is bring hope to this issue by presenting solutions, recommendations, and actions of change to ensure troubled students stand a chance to get the education they deserve, and the school-to-prison pipeline is abolished once and for all. This is Zero Tolerance.
YOU can also be apart of the change. If you or any students/parents you may know are going through an issue pertaining to pipeline , please reach out to me and share your story! I would love to have the opportunity to speak with you, hear your story, and help find a solution. Here are cases we are looking for:
Young people currently incarcerated due to a school related incident.
Special needs students who have either been arrested, charged or both as a result of a school related offense.
Young people who have experienced depression or emotional distress as a result of a school related disciplinary action.
Please fill out the contact form below with your information and I will reach out to you shortly. Sharing your story could make a huge impact for change in our troubled education system.