Yohuru Williams is dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Fairfield University and a member of the board of the Network for Public Education.

“Friends and allies let’s be clear: We anticipated this outcome but much good has come from our organizing efforts. If you wrote or called an elected official, joined an organization like the BATS or The Network for Public Education, stood with teacher activists like the Caucus of WE or MORE, supported our phenomenal teacher unions like the CTU, rallied parents and students to fight against this nomination or symbolically wore black, at least you took action.

“Now is not a time for mourning and retreat. It is time to ratchet up the resistance. If you did none of those things it’s not too late, the fight to save public education has just begun anew and this is day one. The Network for Public Education and the BadassTeachersA will be engaged as will activists across the country. Remember this moment and let it inspire you as it has us to continue this fight. Our children and public schools deserve the best of our efforts even in the shadow of this small setback. Victory goes not to the swift but the dedicated. Make a pledge by joining an organization or participating in an action today to continue this fight. We will win because we are on the side of justice and equity. #DumpDevos #savepubliceducation