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Thomas W. Pyle Middle School Bethesda, Maryland

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Thomas W. Pyle Middle School. Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Robyn Jackson, former Assistant Principal ... A pattern of racial intolerance surfaces ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Thomas W. Pyle Middle School Bethesda, Maryland


1
Thomas W. Pyle Middle SchoolBethesda, Maryland
Walking the Talk A Courageous Approach to
Honoring Diversity
  • Dr. Robyn Jackson, former Assistant Principal
  • Michael J. Zarchin, Principal

2
School Facts
  • Public Middle School
  • Approximately 1,300 Students
  • Bethesda, Maryland (affluent suburb of
    Washington, D.C.
  • 134 Professional Staff (84 Teachers)
  • 80 White, 3 African American, 11.4 Asian, 5.5
    Hispanic/Latino

3
The Crisis
  • A pattern of racial intolerance surfaces
  • African American students are subjected to
    racially insensitive/abusive language from white
    students

4
Core Values
  • The staff members at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School
    are committed to
  • Demonstrating a passion for learning
  • Encouraging academic and personal growth
  • Sustaining a nurturing and respectful environment
  • Honoring diversity

5
The Problem with Diversity Programs
  • Focus on helping white children take on the
    perspective of minority students without
    acknowledging their own perspectives
  • Invalidate the experiences of white students
  • Ignore the stages of white racial identity
    development
  • Offer off-the-shelf or canned approaches that
    are not customized to the school
  • Focus on tolerance versus resisting false notions
    of superiority and embracing diversity
  • Often result in creating a backlash against
    anti-bias efforts and actually cause students to
    become more entrenched in their resistance to
    anti-racist ideology

6
Three-Pronged Approach
  • Staff
  • Students
  • Other stakeholders

7
Staff Initiatives
  • County teaching for equity course
  • Summer leadership team training
  • Study circles
  • Staff Development that addresses race, culture,
    and the achievement gap

8
Student Initiatives
  • Focus groups and facilitated conversations
  • Developing a Character Education Program that
    focuses on
  • Developing authentic identities based on
    personal abilities and interests
  • Promoting comfortable and empathic interactions
    with people from other races
  • Identifying and challenging stereotypes,
    prejudice, and discrimination
  • Building capacity for caring, cooperative, and
    equitable relationships with others

9
Stakeholder Initiatives
  • Study circles
  • - Facilitate honest, productive, discussions
  • - Develop greater understanding of cultural
    differences and the effect of race and culture
    on teaching and learning
  • - Create action steps for change
  • Community meetings
  • - Share information
  • - Seek feedback
  • - Promote involvement

10
Results
  • Awareness
  • Dialogue about race

11
On-going Challenges
  • The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new
    landscapes, but in having new eyes.
  • - Marcel Proust

12
Summary Points
  • Key Learning's
  • Challenges Ahead
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