ANDERSON SCHOOLS DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY , EQUITY AND INCLUSION TREVA BOSTIC LEADS A STAFF DISCUSSION ABOUT BIAS , BOTH HIDDEN AND EXPRESSED .
priorities and establishing a long-term vision for diversity , equity and inclusion throughout the district .
The plan , which Bostic refers to as “ a living document ,” is foundational to ACS ’ s overall educational mission , according to Superintendent Dr . Joe Cronk .
“ This plan provides a road map for how we will together strive to ensure that our staff , students , families and community members feel welcome , valued , and appreciated in each of our school buildings ,” Cronk says . “ Without such a road map , and presenting measurable achievement goals , it would be difficult to accomplish this important task .”
At listening sessions and through input sought via an online survey and feedback through the district ’ s social media channels , community members have been eager to share their thoughts , Bostic notes .
They ’ ve expressed a variety of concerns , she says , that can be distilled into four main points of emphasis : diversity among ACS staff members ; academic achievement among students of low socioeconomic status ( SES ); transparency and communication efforts between administrators and community members ; and parental involvement .
“ We ’ re learning that our schools aren ’ t always friendly , wonderful places for all children ,” says Candy Short , a retired teacher and administrator who volunteers on the district ’ s Diversity , Equity and Inclusion team .
“ I think it ’ s a really good thing that people feel like they can speak their mind and they can talk about their feelings in a safe place . We definitely need that umbrella that ’ s over every aspect of our school system that says , ‘ How is everybody that doesn ’ t look like me going to feel about this program or this project or this bulletin board ?’”
Incorporating a plan challenging both overt and hidden biases into the district ’ s institutional thinking is both necessary and logical , staff members believe , because the students they ’ re educating will soon face a world that ’ s even more diverse than the one they interact with now .
“ I think all of our students need to be treated equally ,” says Terasha Webb , the principal at Edgewood Elementary School . Webb estimates that from 30 % to 40 % of her school ’ s students are minorities , and she expects that percentage to grow in the coming years . “ We live in a very diverse world ,” she notes . “ Our students have to see everybody being treated fairly .”
Kelly Heath , who has taught kindergarten at Edgewood Elementary for 17 years , thinks the training provides insight into how to interact with students . to the table so that you know ?”
The early-morning session was one of six planned for Edgewood staff members participating in implicit bias training . Administering the training , which includes interactive activities , lectures , journaling and other exercises designed to eliminate bias blind spots , is part of Bostic ’ s role , created by the district last summer .
As the first full-time director of diversity , equity and inclusion at Anderson Community Schools , Bostic is at the forefront of the district ’ s efforts to create a welcoming environment for its approximately 6,000 students . Those initiatives include the creation and refining of a three-year strategic plan formalizing
“ I think maybe more of our administration do need this training , and even some in our community ,” Heath says . “ This knowledge is really helpful on how to speak to families and how to take in behaviors .”
Although the training isn ’ t mandatory , some teachers believe it should be . But with many of them already committed to state-mandated training throughout the academic year , administrators are cautious about adding obligations that would tax their already crowded calendars .
“ Scheduling non-mandatory training is very difficult to require as it interrupts the magic that is achieved when teachers and students are in the classroom ,” Cronk explains .
“ With that being said , we strongly encourage all of our staff to take advantage of this and other training provided by Dr . Bostic . We will do all we can to support her as she expands her training opportunities to staff across the district .” •
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