Toolkit for "We Were Ready"

This toolkit illustrates that Albemarle County Public School’s actions before and after the deadly “Unite the Right” protest August 12, 2017, are replicable, and offers examples of the resources the district administration provided to teachers. It also includes Teaching Tolerance resources that can help promote a school climate that helps all members of the school community respond effectively to hate and bias incidents.

Essential Questions

How can schools be prepared for incidents of hate and bias in their community?
How can culturally responsive teaching practices create an inclusive environment that is ready to confront tough topics?
How can educators’ own biases affect curriculum choices?

Procedure

Look through some of those resources and consider the questions that follow.

A Guide for Educators in a Community’s Most Difficult Moments

Office of Community Engagement Executive Director Bernard Hairston sent this letter the week after the rally in Charlottesville, rallying his colleagues to see the event as a teachable moment, and reminding them of the resources and support they had from his office.

Many teachers in the U.S. do not feel supported in discussing hot topics or difficult histories that inform present tragedies. A letter like this from central office sends two vital messages: 1) We've got your back; and 2) You’re not alone in figuring out how to make sense of this moment or how to talk about it.

The resources provided by Dr. Hairston’s office included 10 timely and relevant tools to help educators respond to the events of August 12, 2017. That list includes lessons, ways to respond to trauma, Critical Practices for Anti-Bias Education and Dr. Nicholas King’s presentation to principals.

Statements from the Superintendent

In the immediate aftermath of the Charlottesville rally, ACPS superintendent Pamela Moran and City Schools superintendent Rosa Atkins released a statement. This statement did the vital work of, first, denouncing the act of racism in their community, and second, promising to do the work going forward to promote equity. Their follow-up statement in November did the just-as-important work of holding themselves accountable and sharing with the community what they had learned. One of those takeaways: that having culturally responsive teaching already in place helped facilitate a smooth transition in the aftermath of August 12.

PD by Lars Holmstrom and Leslie Wills-Taylor

This PowerPoint accompanied professional development training from educators Lars Holmstrom and Leslie Wills-Taylor—two of Albemarle County’s CRT-certified teachers. This presentation helped to prepare educators for seeing their students after the events of August 12, engaging them in self-reflection before considering ways to enact “collective efficacy” and talk about the rally, racism and the complex narrative surrounding the statues in their city.

Dr. Nicholas King’s Response to Confederate Memorabilia

This letter from Student Services Officer Nicholas King illustrates the difficult but necessary balance of protecting both free expression and equity when carrying out school policy—especially in the aftermath of a racially charged event such as the rally in Charlottesville. This response does what ignoring the problem fails to do: denounces the act of bigotry without violating first amendment rights.

CRT Conference Lineup

This program from Albemarle County’s last conference celebrating culturally responsive work across the district highlights the widespread involvement of educators and the district’s celebration and elevation of equitable practices. Instead of best practices happening behind closed doors, Albemarle County empowers its teachers to make a difference and share what they’ve learned in the process.

Discussion Questions

• What resources does your district or school provide to help teachers facilitate difficult conversations or learn culturally responsive teaching practices? How could you improve?
• Is there an infrastructure in place at your school or district that would ensure all educators knew how to respond to an incident of hate or bias in your community?
• What action(s) taken by the district staff in Albemarle County would you like to see your school or district implement? What seems easiest? What seems the most ambitious?