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Thomas W. Pyle Middle School Bethesda, Maryland

Walking the Talk: A Courageous Approach to Honoring Diversity. Thomas W. Pyle Middle School Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Robyn Jackson, former Assistant Principal Michael J. Zarchin, Principal. School Facts. Public Middle School Approximately 1,300 Students

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Thomas W. Pyle Middle School Bethesda, Maryland

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  1. Walking the Talk: A Courageous Approach to Honoring Diversity Thomas W. Pyle Middle SchoolBethesda, Maryland 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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