Hello DSST Family, my name is Eric Hill, I am the recipient of the 2020 Core Value Award for respect. This is my fifth year at DSST, and my role is Dean of Students/Culture. I have been serving at the Cole High School Campus my entire time in the network. Respect is one of the network's core values but respect is also at the core of my work. Respect is not only something you say, teach, or expect but it is something that has to be consistently practiced. In my role, I have the opportunity to impact staff, students and families every day. Having these opportunities to practice and model respect through interactions contributes to the development and growth of a person as a whole.

The DSST values are important to me because they help us live in a way where accountability and expectations matter professionally and personally. We have to lead by example through our actions and the core values serve as guiding principles that support us in governing ourselves first so that we are able to help support others.

Being recognized for the core value of respect was a very big deal to me. Respect is one of the values that I pride myself on and it felt very good to know that my teammates not only see me in that same light, but they feel and experience respect from me through my actions and our interactions. I am so fortunate to work with a team and organization where values and principles not only matter but are a driving force in our work.

Someone with whom I've had the pleasure of working at one of my former schools is Dr. Janiece Mackey. She is the co-founder and executive director of a nonprofit organization called YAASPA (Young Aspiring Americans for Social & Political Activism). Mackey is a brilliant African American woman who uses her extensive education and expertise to pour back into our youth. She studied Social Science with a Social Justice emphasis and has a passion for raising the awareness of our youth on social and political issues. In addition, she emphasizes the importance of education and the opportunities it can unlock for you. Mackey is an amazing person and has helped pioneer a team that does great work in our schools and in our communities. I am honored that DSST will be supporting such an organization on my behalf.