SHINE! The Office of DEI Newsletter
Showing How Inclusivity Nurtures Equity (Vol VI 2-4-22)
From the Director's Desk
This month we celebrate Black History Month. Even though February is the month of recognition, learning about the accomplishments and history of all cultures is a great practice.
In 1915, Dr. Carter G. Woodson traveled to Washington, DC to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the emancipation of slaves. (Only 157 years ago.) Numerous displays were exhibited to show the history of African Americans. As a result, Dr. Woodson began to research more about the rich history beyond slavery, that African Americans had contributed to society. Along with his fraternity brothers of Omega Psi Phi, he created "Negro History and Literature Week." He shared with an audience at Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), that Negro history week would inspire African Americans to greater achievements. A press release was sent out announcing Negro History Week in February 1926.
You may have asked, "Why February, it's the shortest month?" Dr. Woodson chose February because it encompassed the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. It was also a tradition to celebrate Lincoln's birthday in February and since the late1890s black communities celebrated Douglass' birthday as well. For these reasons Dr. Woodson wanted Negro History Week to commemorate the black past around traditional days of celebration. As research continued it was obvious that there were too many accomplishments to celebrate in only one week. By the 1960s many states began celebrating all month. Since the mid-1970's every American president, Democrat, and Republican, has issued proclamations endorsing February as "Black History Month."
This year's theme is "Health and Wellness". The Association for the Study of African American Life and History is hosting a virtual festival all month long focusing on the African American contributions to medical discovery and public health. Several books and talks will be streamed throughout the month. https://asalh.org/festival/
Our division has over 74% African American students (data from Office of Research). This month offers a world of opportunities for students to learn about successful African Americans. Students may see themselves in the notable African Americans that you recognize in your instruction whether your students are African American or not. I encourage you to move beyond Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Harriett Tubman, Barack Obama, and George Washington Carver. As I've conducted trainings, one of the most common comments I receive from teachers is that they would like more resources for their students. Follow the Office of DEI on Twitter as we recognize notable African Americans from Virginia. Each day the office tweets out a synopsis of great accomplishments. The tweets can be used as resources. Throughout this issue, there are several links for you to click as well for resources.
Help us to get over 500 followers! FOLLOW US NOW! Please share what your school is doing to celebrate Black History Month. (send an email)
Recognize, Accept, and Celebrate Diversity,
Dr. "PC"
References (Resources):
Top Sharers of Volume 5
Churchland MS, Mr. Paul Wilson-155 views
Churchland HS, Mr. Shawn Millaci-138 views
Churchland Academy ES, Mrs. Karla Jakubowski-122 views
Churchland ES, Dr. Jamill Jones-115 views
Lakeview ES, Mrs.Garyn Moody-102 views
Thank you for sharing! WHO will be on the leaderboard for this issue?
Meet your PPS Equity Task Force
On December 6th, 43 Equity Leads from every building and various departments met via Zoom. The meeting began with a message on behalf of our senior leaders given by Dr. Michael Cromartie our Chief School Officer. The team was honored to have PPS's VTSS Systems Coach Dr. Charlome Pierce and the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Charlotte Mecklenburg County Schools, NC Dr. Chiquitha Lloyd as guests.
The PPS Equity Task Force (ETF) comprises internal stakeholders from the division’s schools, centers, and departments. The ETF works with the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and division leaders to identify inequities and gaps in opportunities within the division. Using the VTSS and VDOE EdEquity Framework, gaps will be identified, and action steps will be developed/implemented to address the inequities that continue to cause disproportionalities among the students of Portsmouth Public Schools. The goal is to create an atmosphere that fosters inclusivity and belonging for all students and stakeholders, striving to eradicate systemic barriers that exist to succeed in reaching the goals of the division’s strategic plan- Expedition to 2025: Purpose. Promise. Success.
Black History Month at CAES
Hista gram
African Masks
Hallways are information hubs @ CAES
Not Quite Snow White written by Ashley Franklin illustrated by Ebony Glenn
Retrieved from https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/not-quite-snow-white-9781338722185.html
Simone Breaks All the Rules by Debbie Rigaud
Her strict Haitian immigrant parents enforce no-dating rules and curfews, and send Simone to an all-girls school. As for prom? Simone is allowed to go on one condition: her parents will select her date (a boy from a nice Haitian immigrant family, obviously). She'll have to discover which rules are worth breaking, and which will save her from heartbreak.
Retrieved from https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/simone-breaks-all-the-rules-9781338681727.html
Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Myers
An exciting, eye-catching repackage of acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers' bestselling paperbacks, to coincide with the publication of SUNRISE OVER FALLUJA in hardcover.
Jimmy hasn't seen his father in nine years. But one day he comes back — on the run from the law. Together, the two of them travel across the country — where Jimmy's dad will find the man who can exonerate him of the crime for which he was convicted. Along the way, Jimmy discovers a lot about his father and himself — and that while things can't always be fixed, sometimes they can be understood and forgiven.
1993 Newbery Honor Book
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
Written by: Nicole MacCauley, Churchland ES Equity Lead
Why won’t that student look me directly in the eye? She’s been blinking non-stop every day since we started school!
And that child in the back row who is constantly making strange noises like screeching, barking, sniffing, snorting, or squealing? What do these children think? Do they think this is funny?
Welcome to the world of neurodivergent students. The dictionary defines neurodivergent as follows:
“differing in mental or neurological function from what is considered typical or normal (frequently used with reference to autistic spectrum disorders); not neurotypical;
Eg. "there are some things that neurotypical people just know or can figure out and that neurodivergent students may need to have a model for.”
If you are not aware or have never heard of this term, it’s not your fault. You may not be familiar with students who struggle with invisible challenges or disabilities that you cannot physically see with the naked eye.
A few examples of neurodivergent disorders include but are not limited to:
Autism, Asperger's, Autism Spectrum Disorder or Sensory Processing Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Tourette's Syndrome
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia
Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia.
Neurodivergent individuals can struggle with various tasks depending on their condition, such as spelling, reading, and writing in the case of dyslexia, or planning and staying focused if they have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Although this can affect their confidence, neurodivergent people tend to be very creative and great problem solvers, easily spotting trends and patterns and being able to approach problems from unique perspectives.
My name is Nicole Macaulay and I’m honored to be the Equity Lead Churchland Elementary School. I was nominated and spent four years sitting on the Diversity Committee at the Department of Justice. I also have a mild case of Tourette’s. Not all cases of Tourette’s are the same; some are more serious than others.
Tics are either classified as either vocal or motor. Below are some examples:
Motor tics:
Blinking or squinting.
Grimacing.
Nose-twitching.
Head/neck jerking.
Shrugging.
Arm or hand movements.
Abdominal tensing.
Rapid jerking of any part of the body.
Vocal tics:
Throat clearing
Sniffing or snorting
Whistling or hissing
Grunting or gurgling
Squeaking or screeching
Animal or bird noises
Phrases (e.g., “shut up,”, “stop that,” wow, that’s it”)
Children with such tics struggle daily with their tics and being accepted by their peers. Tics are called “involuntary” because it is near impossible to suppress them. The closest I can describe it is to telling someone not to sneeze. The more the student tries to suppress the tic, the more pronounced the tic will be once it is released.
Tics are often exacerbated by stressful situations. Examples might include attending a new school, getting an answer wrong in front of other students, being laughed at for having a tic, or being singled out for a tic. Unfortunately, many students are shunned or punished for such behaviors which are beyond their control, due to a lack of awareness by other students or staff.
My hope is that I can help educate more people about tics and that if you hear a student grunt, sniff, squeak, hiss, shrug, or blink repeatedly from time to time, please know these are what we call “involuntary tics”.
Fun facts to share with your students: Below are some famous people who have Tourette’s Syndrome:
Billie Eilish (singer)
David Beckham (soccer player)
Dan Aykroyd (actor)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer/musician)
Howard Hughes (businessman, engineer, aviator, and film producer)
Jamie Grace Howard (musician and Grammy Award winner)
Remembering the Fight for Civil Rights with May Breckenridge Haywood
Mrs. May Breckenridge Haywood is a known civil rights activist and PPS retired educator. Born on July 7, 1940, Mrs. Haywood has been active in Portsmouth, VA. She graduated from I.C. Norcom HS and Virginia State University in 1962. As an educator, she served as a librarian at John D. Kennedy High School in Suffolk and returned home to Portsmouth Public Schools as the librarian at Brighton Elementary and Churchland Academy from 1972-1990. She ended her career at her alma mater as a librarian from 1992 until 2001 when she retired.
After retirement, she became the curator for the Portsmouth Colored Community Library. In In the late 1920s, black citizens established their own library because they were unable to use Portsmouth's main library because of segregation. St. John Episcopal Church opened a reading room that was partially funded through the New Deal-era National Youth Administration. In 1941, the funding ended and the library closed. The Portsmouth Library Association raised funds for the land on which the library would be built and worked with the city to have it completed in 1945.
A 900 square foot Portsmouth Community Library opened on South Street on December 20, 1945, South Street. What made the Portsmouth Community Library so extraordinary was that unlike the other libraries where the "colored" or "negro" libraries were smaller branches of the while libraries, the Portsmouth Community Library was the "brain-child" of the African-American Society. The Portsmouth Community Library not only provided books, but it was also a resource for the African American community. The library had clothing drives, organized Negro History Week programs, and provided other services.
After the results of a lawsuit in 1963 to integrate the city's public libraries, the Community library closed. The building moved to the parking lot of Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1967 to be saved from demolition.
In 2007, the building made its final move to 904 Elm Street due to a perseverance project of the Portsmouth African American Historical Society under the leadership of Mrs. May Breckenridge Haywood. With support from the city, the building was renovated and reopened as the Portsmouth Colored Community Library Museum in 2013. The goal of the library is to share the rich legacy through exhibits and programs that promote literacy and respect for diversity.
Mrs. Haywood has written a book about the rich African American history in the city of Portsmouth. She still works and leads the programs at the Portsmouth Colored Community Library Museum as well as serves as the historian for the ICNHS Alumni Association.
For more information about the Portsmouth Colored Community Library Museum click on the link below.
Portsmouth Colored Community Library https://portsvaafricanamericanheritage.com/
Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Director
Email: janeen.campbell@portsk12.com
Website: https://www.ppsk12.us/about_pps/departments/departments_a-f/diversity__equity_and_inclusion
Phone: 757-393-8728
Twitter: @PPSOfficeofDEI