Black History Month Q&A with Administrative Assistant, Emily Andre

Emily Andre is in her 2nd year as an administrative assistant at Central Catholic High School.  Emily helps with the day-to-day operations in the main office.  Before coming to CCHS, she worked as a Pre-K1 teacher and infant teacher. 

Emily is currently taking classes toward a business degree.  She wanted to work at Central Catholic to get back to her original field of administration and to give herself flexibility to spend more time with her family.

This year’s theme for Black History Month is “African Americans & Labor.”  Please reflect on the pivotal role that African Americans have played in shaping our country’s history.
African Americans have always showcased their ability.  They have been able to make something out of nothing.  Growing up, I watched my family members start their own businesses and do amazing things without any help from others.

If you could pick any figure central to Black History to have dinner with, who would it be & why? 
I would pick my biological father to have dinner with.  He was one of the young college students murdered in 1968 on his campus.  I would ask him one question, ”Was it worth it to speak up about the injustice that was happening in America during that time?”  I look around and these injustices are still happening here in America. 

What does Black History Month mean to you?  
It means for only one month the world hears about a fraction of what African Americans had to endure here in America and all their amazing contributions.  How can you fit over 246 years since slavery and today's issues into 28 days?  This month is also shared with: National Freedom Day, Groundhog Day, Super Bowl Sunday, National Flag Day, Valentine’s Day, and Presidents’ Day.  The celebration of Black History can get lost in the celebration of all these others.  I believe this should not just be a one-month celebration.

What are some ways you appreciate how CCHS celebrates the diversity at our school?  What are ways you would like to see CCHS continue to celebrate Black History Month”
I appreciate that CCHS has: African American Club (AAC), Gospel Choir, Jazz Dance, and Hip-Hop Dance, among other things. I would like to see African American history celebrated alongside American history throughout the year in the classrooms.

What do you love most about Central Catholic High School?
What I love most is that the staffulty are kind, and they want to hear your concerns.  They open the door to allow not only the staff to be heard, but the students as well.  It might not happen all at once, but I know change will come as times change.  I would like to leave you with one of my favorite quotes by Maya Angelou - “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”