As the first African American woman to serve as a principal in Delaware, Edwina Kruse was a pioneering educator who fought for better educational opportunities for students. Her appointment to this position at Howard High School in Wilmington (which was for many years, Delaware’s only business and college preparatory high school for African Americans serving the entire state). Kruse’s appointment as principal marked a significant milestone in the state's educational history, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of educators and leaders.

Among the Howard students during her time as principal were civil rights lawyer Louis L. Redding and teacher and activist Pauline A. Young. When Booker T. Washington visited Wilmington in 1900, he stayed with Kruse.

Throughout her career, Kruse was a steadfast advocate for educational equity and excellence. She worked tirelessly to ensure that students at Howard High School received a quality education, despite the challenges of segregation and limited resources. Kruse's dedication to providing opportunities for students helped to uplift and empower generations of young people, contributing to a more educated and equitable society.

Beyond her role as a school principal, Kruse was deeply engaged in her community and served as a mentor and role model to countless individuals. She helped establish the state's Industrial School for Colored Girls, which was renamed for Kruse in 1943; it was later merged with a white girls' reformatory, before being absorbed in a co-educational state program in the 1980s. She also helped create the Sarah Ann White Home for the Aged in Wilmington. She was one of the organizers of Wilmington's branch of the NAACP in 1914, and hosted an early meeting of the group in her home.

She believed in the importance of nurturing and supporting young people, and her mentorship left a lasting impact on the lives of those she encountered.

Louis L. Redding became the first African American lawyer in Delaware in 1929, breaking significant racial barriers in the legal profession within the state. His admission to the bar was a groundbreaking achievement and paved the way for future generations of Black lawyers.

Redding was a pivotal figure in the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, which led to the desegregation of public schools in the United States. He represented the plaintiffs in Delaware cases that were consolidated into Brown v. Board of Education, arguing against the "separate but equal" doctrine.

Throughout his career, Redding was deeply involved in the civil rights movement, fighting for the desegregation of schools, public accommodations, and housing. His legal work contributed significantly to the dismantling of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in Delaware and beyond.

A dedicated civil rights activist and social worker, Jane E. Mitchell worked tirelessly to improve the lives of African Americans in Delaware and was a staunch advocate for women's rights. Mitchell was the first African-American to work as a nurse in Delaware and the first African-American to serve as a member of the Delaware State Board of Nursing. She went on to work as the director of nursing at the Delaware State Psychiatric Hospital.

As a civil rights activist and volunteer, she was dedicated to empowering women, particularly African American women, by promoting educational opportunities, economic independence, and political participation. Her efforts helped to lay the groundwork for future advancements in gender equality.

Marian Wright Edelman is the founder and president emerita of the Children's Defense Fund (established in 1973), a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for children's rights and welfare. Under Edelman’s leadership, CDF has been instrumental in shaping national policies and programs that address child poverty, access to education, healthcare, and juvenile justice.

Through her advocacy work with the Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman has influenced numerous pieces of legislation aimed at protecting children's rights and improving their well-being. Examples include the passage of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides healthcare coverage to millions of children, and the expansion of federal nutrition programs that support child nutrition and development.

Dr. Darling-Hammond is currently the President of the Learning Policy Institute, a think tank dedicated to improving education policies and practices. She has also served as the President of the California State Board of Education and as a professor at Stanford University.

Throughout her career, Dr. Darling-Hammond has been a vocal advocate for educational equity. She has focused on closing achievement gaps, ensuring access to high-quality education for all students, and promoting policies that support disadvantaged communities.

She is the author or co-author of numerous influential books and articles on education policy and reform. Her research has shaped national discussions on topics such as teacher preparation, school leadership, and the impact of socioeconomic factors on educational outcomes.

Dr. Darling-Hammond's work has had a significant impact on education policy at both state and national levels. She has advised policymakers and educational leaders on strategies to improve educational equity, teacher effectiveness, and overall school performance.

She has received several awards and honors for her contributions to education, including the Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education and the Brock International Prize in Education.

Former U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. John B. King Jr. has prioritized educational equity and civil rights enforcement, particularly through initiatives focused on closing achievement gaps and addressing disparities in school discipline and resources. He has advocated for policies to expand access to high-quality early childhood education, college affordability, and career and technical education programs.

He is the 15th Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), (the largest comprehensive system of public higher education in the United States) and previously served as President & CEO of The Education Trust, a national civil rights nonprofit which seeks to identify and close opportunity and achievement gaps for students from preschool through college.

As the former Commissioner of Education and President of USNY, Commissioner King worked with the Board of Regents to pursue an ambitious education reform agenda. King has played an integral role in coordinating inter-agency work on My Brother's Keeper including allowing as many as 12,000 prison inmates to apply for federal Pell grants to finance college classes, despite a 22-year congressional ban on providing financial aid to prisoners.