Around the Country
The Oakland, Calif., district was among the first to establish an office of African-American male achievement, and its approach is seen as a model. Other efforts to promote equity among diverse groups are also underway in Orange County schools in Orlando, Fla.; in Wake County, N.C.; Beaverton, Ore.; and Virginia Beach, Va., among other locations.
The Minneapolis district’s office is patterned after Oakland’s. Walker is working here to ensure that students—like the 8th graders who were worrying their school administrators—have positive role models. They and their parents take an active part in their own education. The office is also ensuring that culturally responsive practices are in place in schools, that parents know who to call if issues arise, and that principals who want to develop programs for black students have a ready resource.
The office started last year under former schools chief Bernadeia Johnson, and has continued with her interim successor, Michael Goar. This school year, it has a proposed $1.2 million budget and is partnering with 12 schools, four each at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
In those schools, teachers are expected to participate in five professional-development sessions, including ones focused on strategies to engage black male students; how to recognize unconscious bias; and how to be connected to the communities in which they teach.
Changing adult behavior is also an important part of Walker’s work. “It’s not about fixing the young people,” he said. “It’s about us [adults] changing the way we go about working with young people; us changing how we go about allowing them to be able to make mistakes, and not let that be the end for them.”