Da’Vion Tatum, a former valedictorian of Westfield High School and recent Harvard graduate, has been elected as the youngest director on the board of Spring ISD’s Education Foundation. He first gained attention when KHOU covered his viral college application success.
Tatum, who was admitted to Harvard University in 2021 and graduated with a double major in integrative biology and history of science, has taken on a new role at Spring ISD. In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, he said, “Many people feel like public education is not needed or important. I’m a huge fan of pouring back into our public education system.” He also stated, “We want Spring ISD to maintain its autonomy so it’s not written off before we’re able to show what it’s capable of,” as the district faces ongoing challenges.
At Harvard, Tatum combined academics with leadership and advocacy, including serving as a panelist at the 2024 Democratic National Convention and supporting international students during enrollment challenges. “I have friends who would come up to me and express such concern. Harvard does not do everything right, but they did fight and push back against this administration's attempts, so these students could graduate,” he said. With guidance from his former college counselor Clara Thompson nee Lauderdale, Tatum took on leadership roles in student organizations and secured more than $764,000 in scholarships, which he described in his book “Thriving in My Own Lane.” He was later elected to the Spring ISD Education Foundation board and is considering graduate school, with an interest in combining medicine, law, and community service. “I want to look at how people learn. Look at history that has been erased and is not being taught in school. And look at the history of social justice and policy to scratch that humanities itch that I have,” he said, as mentioned by Houston Chronicle.
