The color of school reform? The education reform movement is made up of voices that are disproportionately not of the same races, ethnicities, and cultures it seeks to serve. I recently read an article that directly addresses this issue and acknowledges the calls for diversification made by African American education leaders, including Kaya Henderson, chancellor of D.C. Public Schools, and Howard Fuller, a Marquette professor. Fuller said: “The people who are liberated must be a fundamental part of their own liberation.” This statement made me reflect on my experiences as a researcher and advocate for education reform. My Experience Often when I walk into a meeting about education issues I am reminded that I am black. My race is salient in these meetings because the room is predictably and overwhelmingly white with a few (3-5) people of color. This is the norm. My first scan of the room always reveals this discouraging reality. Scanning the room is not to find “black allies” but to understand whose voices are being heard in these discussions. It comes from a sincere desire for a healthy representation of the diverse views and opinions of these students, communities, and families that are often missing from education reform. During most meetings this fairly homogeneous group of people eloquently and thoughtfully engage in passionate conversations about children of color and their unjust school experiences. The dialogue in the room turns into subtle conversations about students' academic characteristics, neighborhoods, language, parents, and poverty levels as they relate to the educational woes of students of color. And then it happens, a colleague or a group of white colleagues…… in the middle of a paper…… reaches out to help us avoid mistakes. In reality, racially diverse people will interpret politics, challenge assumptions, and can provide a counter-narrative in unique ways. However, relying on uniformity over diversity will continue to propagate an already stratified education system. Despite the current demographics in education reform, creating diversity is possible. There is no other way to solve our current education crisis. Start here. With an understanding of the essentialism that exists in education reform. Stakeholders in the education reform movement must make it a priority to begin integrating the debate. We must build deliberate collaborations and coalitions with Black and Brown communities and educators to engage in this dialogue. Education transformation will materialize as we get closer to the people we are trying to help.