April-2020-Advisor_2

DIVERSIFYING

APRIL 2020 CEA ADVISOR 15

WEST HARTFORD SCHOOL EXPLORES TOPICS IN DIVERSITY Third annual Diversity Day encourages conversations about race, gender, and mental health

Aaliyah Brown’s last year as a student at West Hartford’s King Philip Middle School marked the first time her school hosted Diversity Day—an annual event where all 300 eighth graders discuss issues and experiences related to race, gender, sexuality, and mental health and ability. Among the guest speakers that day was a young woman of color— Asia Clermont, who teaches African American history and U.S. history at West Hartford’s Hall High School. (Clermont, it turns out, drew her inspiration to teach from her mother, U.S. Congresswoman and former National Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes.) Clermont made a strong impression on Aaliyah Brown, who had met very few teachers of color in her academic career. Here, at her school’s Diversity Day, was a teacher who looked like her and who could relate to many of her own experiences. “I’ll be in your class someday,” the eighth-grader told Clermont that day. “I’ll remember you.” Clermont’s students at Hall High School. And when she returned to King Philip last month, it was as a workshop facilitator for the third annual Diversity Day, where she was the one leading discussions with eighth graders about race, ethnicity, That was two years ago. Today, Aaliyah is one of

colorism, and cultural competence. “I love that these conversations are happening here,” she said. “When middle schoolers start talking about race, ethnicity, and stereotypes, it helps change the environment at the high school level and in college.” Aaliyah is a member of West Hartford’s Future Educators of Diversity (FEoD), whose mission includes bringing more students of color into the teaching profession. Diverse community of learners Diversity Day is the brainchild of King Philip social studies teacher Rebecca Lewis, who says, “Our school is a diverse community of learners, and it’s a priority for us and all of West Hartford’s public schools to create a learning environment that is welcoming and open to all students. It’s never too early to talk about race and gender identity, because kids are talking about it already, and we want to give them a safe space. We want them to get the facts and to know that there are resources for them to turn to.” To that end, teachers, community members, and older students facilitate sessions that help middle schoolers learn about different people and understand how various identities are seen in society and impacted by society. “This is a day I created because I saw a need for these types of

Students and teachers play a version of musical chairs in which they discover challenges and experiences they have in common, as well as ways in which they differ. Here, players were asked to rise from their chairs if they never saw themselves reflected in their teachers.

conversations,” Lewis says. “I saw how much my eighth grade students craved opportunities to discuss issues impacting their everyday lives.” The theme of the day this year was “See Me,” and core questions included What challenges do different groups and people face, and why? How does this affect you? How is diversity seen in society? How is it seen in our school and community? What can we do about discrimination, and where are your spheres of influence? “Safe space was created for open, honest questions and discussions, and teachers spent time preparing their students for this day,” Lewis says. “Diversity Day is so enlightening,” says Hall High School FEoD member Jayce Hamilton, an aspiring math teacher who will be attending Howard University in the fall. “We didn’t have this when I was at King Philip.” “Middle schoolers can be very sheltered,” says fellow FEoD member Laila Yusuf, who co- facilitated a workshop at King Philip with her high school peers. “Having this experience can show them a little more about the real world and how they can make it better.” See me, hear me One of the many activities FEoD students led was a whole-class version of musical chairs, called The Great Wind Blows. Students arranged their chairs in a circle around the classroom, with one facilitator or student in the center. The individual in the middle would recall a particular experience or trait of his or her own and share it with the group, starting each

statement with, “The great wind blows for anyone who…” All students who shared that same trait or experience would then rise from their chairs and race to find another spot. The one left standing would be the next to share. “The great wind blows for anyone who is part of a minority group.” “The great wind blows for anyone who has been stereotyped.” “The great wind blows for anyone who has felt at one point that they didn’t fit in.” “The great wind blows for anyone who doesn’t see themselves reflected in their school faculty—teachers or administrators.” On that last note—as most students rose and scrambled to find a new seat—King Philip technology teacher Nevin Picard said that students need to see more diversity among their teachers. Picard, a second-year educator, has an open- door policy and encourages students to come to him with any problems they might have. “Having teachers of color is important,” he says, “because it gives more students the opportunity to connect with adults who may have similar backgrounds and experiences.” Clermont agrees, noting that she had few teachers of color growing up and has few colleagues of color today. “Students are noticing,” she says. “And we’re having conversations about how to bring more young people of color into teaching. We can’t shy away from these conversations, because representation really matters.”

King Philip Middle School social studies teacher Rebecca Lewis (far right) is interviewed by WTNH Channel 8 about Diversity Day, an event she has been organizing for the past three years.

Students compile a list of examples and meanings they associate with stereotypes, race, perception, identity, and more.

To bring more diversity into the profession, CEA has launched Teaching Is Calling You, a public awareness campaign that encourages young people to imagine a future for themselves in teaching. Through English- and Spanish-language television spots, radio ads, and video vignettes featuring Connecticut teachers and students, the campaign delivers powerful messages about teaching as a way of staying connected and contributing to our communities. Watch and listen at cea.org/ teachingiscalling .

Hall High School teacher Asia Clermont, second from left, helps students from her school’s Future Educators of Diversity facilitate workshops for King Philip’s eighth graders. L-R: Aaliyah Brown, Jayce Hamilton, and Laila Yusuf.