Each month, we highlight a Supermom of the Month, a member who has gone above and beyond to advocate for clean air and children’s health. Our members in states across the country are more important than ever as we work to preserve clean air and climate protections. Will you join us?
This month, we’re celebrating Kallette Stanford, a kindergarten teacher in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Kallette was nominated by her daughter, Kiya Stanford, Moms’ Georgia Field Organizer.
In her nomination, Kiya wrote that her mom was an indispensable advocate and volunteer in Georgia last year. Kallette joined meetings with Senator Jon Ossoff’s staff in Atlanta to share her perspective as an educator and advocate for every child’s right to breathe clean air and ride to school on a tailpipe-pollution-free electric school bus. She helped with set up and tear down at community events, like the Clean Energy Trunk or Treat, where Moms and partners plied kids with candy and crafts while chatting with families about electric cars and renewable energy in Georgia.
Tell Congress: Hold Zeldin Accountable for Corrupting EPA’s Mission
We spoke with Kallette about how she became an environmental advocate and what keeps her motivated when advocacy feels like an uphill battle.
How did you first become interested in environmental and air quality issues?
We found out that Kiya had a health issue before she was born and that her environment—and particularly poor air quality—can affect her. So that made me more interested in what is in our air. I want to make sure there’s a clean world for my children to live in.
What was it like meeting with Senator Ossoff’s staff in Atlanta?
Visiting the Senator’s office was definitely a new experience for me. I do feel that we were listened to. His staff were interested in what we had to say, and they are dedicated to helping constituents with whatever is important to them.
Once we finished with the meeting agenda, the staff member we met with asked me if I had any concerns as a teacher. That’s what stood out the most to me. I was surprised that he took the time to ask me about being a teacher, not just a mom.
Do you talk to your students about your advocacy?
Yes, I bring it up at a very basic level because my students are so young. They may ask why we recycle, or if we can’t go outside—especially in the warmer months when the air quality is not good—they may ask why not. I tell them, “The air is not healthy for us to breathe right now. If we go outside, we may get sick. It may bother our lungs. Our friends with asthma cannot go outside because it will bother them. It may make them sicker than it will make those of us who don’t have asthma.” They understand asthma because a lot of students have breathing issues.
Do you see a special role for teachers in addressing environmental challenges?
I do, because a lot of times we give more information than the parents do. But like I said before, it’s very basic. When we’re talking about, reduce-reuse-recycle, I have to tell them all of this goes hand-in-hand. If we’re burning things [like fossil fuels], we’ll release pollution into the air that makes it hard for us to breathe. And it hurts the Earth. It makes the air dirty.
It’s very important for teachers to keep it on the level of the students we’re teaching, but also to let them know that they have a hand keeping the Earth as safe as possible.
How do you stay motivated to continue advocating for clean air and environmental protection?
My daughter and my students are definitely motivators because I want them to be able to live in a world where they can breathe fresh air and have clean water. I want them to have the opportunity to live as healthily as they can and not have to worry about using an air filter. We have air purifiers in our school in each of the classrooms. I wish that that was not a necessity, but at this point, it is. I’m very adamant about making sure that whatever can be done is done to help the environment.
At Moms, we’re all trying to raise advocates like Kiya. How did you do it?
I really didn’t have to do much with Kiya. I just exposed her to civic engagement, and she took it from there.
She is definitely a go-getter, and if she sees there is a need for change, she’s gonna make it happen. She shocked me when she told me in her younger days that she was interested in volunteering. Kiya just has that intrinsic push to do what’s good for people.
Tell Congress: Hold Zeldin Accountable for Corrupting EPA’s Mission