Question for teachers: How did your admin support staff around recent events/racial injustice?

[Anonymous]

Wow. If that’s the kind of environment I’m in what can I do to change that if I am low in the hierarchy? I think it’s such a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. If that’s the kind of environment I’m in what can I do to change that if I am low in the hierarchy? I think it’s such a problem.

I will be honest that the emotional heavy lifting of dealing with low key racists every day burned me out. Not so much for myself, but because I saw the impact on the students year after year. I wanted to leave by year three. Then two things happened. My school started a chapter of the minority scholars program. Then, there were two staff members publicly committed to speaking up for students and teaching them to self-advocate when teachers discriminated. The other thing was that we finally hit the tipping point through retirements and had a staff open to some uncomfortable conversations about bias. Otherwise, I would have left at the end of that year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. If that’s the kind of environment I’m in what can I do to change that if I am low in the hierarchy? I think it’s such a problem.

I will be honest that the emotional heavy lifting of dealing with low key racists every day burned me out. Not so much for myself, but because I saw the impact on the students year after year. I wanted to leave by year three. Then two things happened. My school started a chapter of the minority scholars program. Then, there were two staff members publicly committed to speaking up for students and teaching them to self-advocate when teachers discriminated. The other thing was that we finally hit the tipping point through retirements and had a staff open to some uncomfortable conversations about bias. Otherwise, I would have left at the end of that year.

That’s awesome. Unfortunately, our admin ( both principal and AP) continue with micro- aggressions and digs towards those staff members who are considered “other”. Obviously it trickles down to teachers who contribute to a really bad school environment. If we say something, we hear the ever dreaded “in America”, even though I’ve been in the US for decades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our schools had Zoom community circles available to all student grade levels. We did one for staff as well. Pretty powerful. Some staff were really upset and crying. It was eye opening to see how this has affected others.

what school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. If that’s the kind of environment I’m in what can I do to change that if I am low in the hierarchy? I think it’s such a problem.

I will be honest that the emotional heavy lifting of dealing with low key racists every day burned me out. Not so much for myself, but because I saw the impact on the students year after year. I wanted to leave by year three. Then two things happened. My school started a chapter of the minority scholars program. Then, there were two staff members publicly committed to speaking up for students and teaching them to self-advocate when teachers discriminated. The other thing was that we finally hit the tipping point through retirements and had a staff open to some uncomfortable conversations about bias. Otherwise, I would have left at the end of that year.

That’s awesome. Unfortunately, our admin ( both principal and AP) continue with micro- aggressions and digs towards those staff members who are considered “other”. Obviously it trickles down to teachers who contribute to a really bad school environment. If we say something, we hear the ever dreaded “in America”, even though I’ve been in the US for decades.

I’m sorry. Maybe start with MSP at your school. Or begin a chapter if you need one. Ultimately though, there is a toll on emotional and physical health that you might have to prioritize. The whole put your oxygen mask on first thing is actually really life saving for those engaging in anti-racism work. And sometimes that looks like leaving a school that is so toxic that it requires a change in admin to even start talking about race.

[Anonymous]

My principal tried very hard to stay neutral in our meeting. The meeting was initially centered around what we should say to students during this time. We have a few on our staff who wouldn't surprise me if they turned out to be closeted racists. Their facial expressions during the meeting were enough to cause the principal (who is white) to go off script. "Black Lives Matter and if you don't agree with that then just keep your damn mouth shut." The principal has biracial children and had some very passionate words. I think that alone did more for me than if we'd stuck to the original script.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My principal tried very hard to stay neutral in our meeting. The meeting was initially centered around what we should say to students during this time. We have a few on our staff who wouldn't surprise me if they turned out to be closeted racists. Their facial expressions during the meeting were enough to cause the principal (who is white) to go off script. "Black Lives Matter and if you don't agree with that then just keep your damn mouth shut." The principal has biracial children and had some very passionate words. I think that alone did more for me than if we'd stuck to the original script.

I would have appreciated that too. There is no place for neutrality -- any admin who plays it safe or avoids the topic isn't equipped to be a leader.

[Anonymous]

They sent us teaching resources and asked us to attend a training on discussing race in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

So nothing about staff well being or staff relationships then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So nothing about staff well being or staff relationships then?

I’m the Eastern poster. Both were discussed, informally and informally. And more than once. It did not feel to me like checking a box. I think six people on ILT reached out to me more than once and some conversations have continued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So nothing about staff well being or staff relationships then?

I’m the Eastern poster. Both were discussed, informally and informally. And more than once. It did not feel to me like checking a box. I think six people on ILT reached out to me more than once and some conversations have continued.

Fantastic. The eastern principal should train some of the other middle school principals!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend at another school said her principal sent staff an email but made no mention of any current events around race at their staff meetings. What did your principal do? I assume there was a wide range of responses.

Our principal led the charge at the riots.

So cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend at another school said her principal sent staff an email but made no mention of any current events around race at their staff meetings. What did your principal do? I assume there was a wide range of responses.

Our principal led the charge at the riots.

So cool.

Is this her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend at another school said her principal sent staff an email but made no mention of any current events around race at their staff meetings. What did your principal do? I assume there was a wide range of responses.

Our principal led the charge at the riots.

So cool.

Is this her?

Which principal is this?!