Each month, Revolutionary Paideia selects a person who “unsettles, unnerves, and unhouses” us in meaningful and positive ways. Kelley Williams-Bolar has been selected as The Revolutionary Paideia January 2011 Person of the Month. She is a Black mother who was sentenced to 10 days in jail and two years of probation in Ohio for sending her children to a school district that they supposedly did not live in. This woman is a heroine! She refused to allow her children to stay trapped in a failing school district. She was not willing to allow her children to continue to be victimized by egregiously underfunded schools and by serious educational inequities. Kelley Williams-Bolar was not simply willing to sit back and complain like many other people about social and educational inequities—she went out and attempted to create the change that she wanted to see. Many timorous and comfortable Americans can learn from the great example of Williams-Bolar. This woman is not a criminal—she’s a heroine.
One of the great promises of Brown v. Board of Education (1954) was to provide all students with educational equity. Unfortunately, many Black students are still in schools that are really not any better than those Black students were situated in during Jim Crow. Conservatives, liberals, and moderates should all be in the business of championing true educational equity for all students. One of the best ways to continue to progress America towards its optimal greatness is to ensure that all students have access to a truly quality education. Kelley Williams-Bolar saw that there was a school district available that could offer her children a quality education, and she resolved that she was going to give her children access to schools that can truly educate them. If this means that this woman should be considered a “criminal,” then we need more “criminals.”
I want to applaud Williams-Bolar for having the courage to do what it took to give her children the best education possible.
Governor John Kasich, I like you very much but I want you to pardon this woman.
It is my pleasure to name Kelley Williams-Bolar as The Revolutionary Paideia January 2011 Person of the Month.
Antonio Maurice Daniels
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Revolutionary Paideia 
This a great person for the month of January. She should be a hero for parents with children. She’s even a hero for me and I don’t even have children. I’m hoping the legal issues are disbanded soon from here. We don’t need an example, we need better schools!
I hope you signed the “petition”
She needs to be pardoned. Yes, I signed the petition and announced on Facebook and Twitter for others to sign it as well. This woman understands the true meaning of revolutionary love. I truly support her and pray for her success.
This is incredible. I am completely inspired by this woman and inspired by the way people are standing for her. Let’s not step over the racism that still exists and this is clearly a woman who refuses to believe things should be anything less than equal for her children. Amazing.
@Sunny Dee: She has deeply inspired me too. Oh yes, racism is still alive and well. This is truly revolutionary love for one’s children. Thanks for reading and your response!
I want to say thank you so much for talking about my (case) situation.I began blogging because it is therapeutic and I started noticing many blogs about my case. I am filled with over whelming gratitude and I give thanks to everyone that signed my petition and spoke on my behalf. I went into a great depression. Many people do know know that my father as well went to jail and he died in prison all for the education of my two daughter’s I will have a autobiography coming soon. Hopefully before the new year. I wish every one well Thank you so much. We are all a family in some form or fashion. Feel free to highlight and stay up to date with my blogs. God bless http://students4revolution.wordpress.com/2013/10/06/the-kelley-williams-bolar-story-we-all-have-a-story/
You are a true inspiration and I wish you great success! I will be following your work and blog. Stay committed to the great work you are doing and God is going to prosper you tremendously. I feel truly honored that you have responded to my article. I look for even greater things from you in the future. Stay encouraged!