Winter 2010
Por Version Espanol  

 Inside the Circle

Table of Contents

Telling Our Stories
     Giles Benson, Participant
     Adrianna Navia-Lopez, Participant
     Jane O. Smith, Facilitator    
     Leslie Eure, Participant
         
Enlarging the Circle: Increasing Staff Participation

We want to Hear from You!

Meet Our Staff 

Hello, 

 Last year, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said: 

"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards. . . . Race is an issue we have never been at ease with and, given our nation's history, this is in some ways understandable. . . . If we are to make progress in this area, we must feel comfortable enough with one another and tolerant enough of each other to have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us."

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) tackles race and ethnicity as a barrier to academic achievement in many ways. In the past 12 months alone, more than 1,600 diverse parents, students, teachers and school leaders have participated in the kind of honest conversations Holder described. The Board of Education, the Leadership Team of the Office of the Chief Operating Officer, middle and high school students from all backgrounds and achievement levels, parents who do not speak English and rarely participate in school events, teachers, building service personnel, Parent Teacher Association presidents and principals have come together to heal and inspire their communities.

There is still much to be done. During a recent Action Planning Meeting, one participant told the group that although she feels comfortable talking about race with others in her Circle, she isn’t confident enough to discuss her experiences with her husband and friends. We hope that Inside the Circle will increase her comfort level—and yours, too—so we can take conversations from the safe confines of study circles to our larger community.

Inside the Circle is designed as a forum to share stories, ideas, and questions. Just like study circles, it belongs to all of us! 

John and Ruby
Study Circles Program Coordinators


Telling Our Stories
 

  ‘I am a Living Example’ – Giles Benson, acting director, Department of Recruitment and Staffing.For my first 58 years, I was not aware of any impact that race had on my life. I was blind to the reality that my whiteness conferred upon me advantages not available to people of different racial or ethnic backgrounds. I have lived my life in relative racial isolation. While my schooling had always involved classmates from other races, that was the extent of my racial integration. My parents never discussed race and I continued the same parenting skills while raising my children.

My life has been clearly partitioned between school/work and “life outside school/work.” As I review my memories, social activities have not been integrated. Only through my children’s activities, sports etc., was there any visual evidence of racial interaction. 

I am a living example of “it’s who you know, not what you know” as I began my career with MCPS. With my blinders off, I can see my white privilege was at work very hard in the beginning of my employment.  It was the stepping stone to who and where I am today. I believe being aware of this invisible advantage is MY becoming a more effective leader. 

I hope with continued dialogue on race,  I can become a better leader, with stronger interpersonal skills, and improved understanding of cultural awareness.
 

 ‘My Reflections’ – Adrianna Navia-Lopez, Participant

Since participating in the Study Circle at Rosemary Hills, I’ve noticed a lot more about the world around me and myself. I have become aware of how divided people are in terms of race. I am from Colombia, and before the Study Circle, I thought of myself as white—because there, I’m considered white, not Hispanic or Latina. After participating in the Study Circle, I understand a lot more about how people view the world and how they form their stereotypes of race and skin color. The Study Circle really opened my mind about how to speak about race and confront people without offending them. Before, race was a subject I didn’t want to talk about, didn’t know how to talk about, but now I’ve become braver.

One day I was running late for the shuttle bus at the airport where I work and heard a woman say, “Don’t wait for her, she’s white,” referring to me. I confronted her and asked her why she had said that. A year ago, I never would have done that. I sometimes see reverse racism like that—blacks to Hispanics, blacks to whites. I wish everyone had the opportunity to do a Study Circle; it will open minds.

It was an awakening experience, an enriching experience. I will have a better opportunity to talk to the principal at my son’s school. I won’t be so intimidated, won’t be held back by my accent or feeling nervous about my English. I really appreciated the Study Circle—how people want to be involved in their children’s schools, sharing that experience. I want my child to treat everyone equally. Especially after participating in the Study Circle, I’m not afraid to talk about race. I even recommended the Study Circles program to my friend who lives in Fairfax County.

 

 ‘You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught’ – Jane O. Smith, Facilitator

I remember hearing the soundtrack to “South Pacific” as a little girl, and the lyrics “You’ve got to be taught to hate and fear …You’ve got to be taught from year to year… It’s got to be drummed in your dear little ear…You’ve got to be carefully taught.” My life experience informs me that this is true.

As a facilitator for Study Circles, I am able to help others understand why they are creating these barriers—and to help begin the process of healing. The content and exercises encourage self-expression and deep dialogue in an honest and safe environment. This is no small matter. It is powerful and it is my ministry.

There is great joy in watching participants grow, in speaking their minds courageously. As a facilitator I have the privilege of promoting conversations about race and ethnicity and how they sometimes keep students from moving ahead. With a shared understanding of the barriers, we begin formulating strategies to overcome them. If I do my job well, the creativity and passion of even the quietest of personalities will shine through.

Oscar Hammerstein challenges us to affirm each other in light of our differences. Study Circles gives us a set of tools to prompt new ways of thinking and acting, so our children can embrace learning as positive, no matter where they come from or what they look like. I am truly blessed and humbled to play a part in this marvelous endeavor!

   ‘Actively Welcoming Parents at Tilden Middle School’ – Leslie Eure, Participant

As a minority, I was already sensitive to racial and cultural prejudice and stereotyping. However, I learned so much from the other participants in my Study Circle at Tilden and in reality learned some things about myself (both positive and negative stereotypes I carry about other groups). I believe the experience helped me grow as an individual and parent. For example, as a result of spending weeks together, our Study Circle formed two new groups for the school. One of them, tentatively called the “Welcoming Committee,” will further increase parent communication and participation in school activities.

The Welcoming Committee will serve as an additional resource for our school and directly reach out to and mentor families new to Tilden. These new families include those of rising fifth graders and any transferring family from other MCPS schools, private schools, or out of the country. This is based on a recognized need to make sure every family feels connected to our diverse school community. We wish to help families who may have language and/or cultural barriers become more informed and involved in our school. Further, we expect that a stronger connection, aided by a mentoring group of parents, will increase success and improve the quality of education for all our students.

I have become involved in the new Welcoming Committee and I am hopeful that both new and seasoned parents see this as an opportunity to mentor and/or share information for the benefit of their own families as well as the school community. 

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Enlarging the Circle: Increasing Staff Participation

In the past few years, many action plans have cited a need to engage a greater number of  staff members in the Study Circles process.

Parents, students, administrators and teachers have commented that in order to create substantial and lasting change in the school system, more staff members must have access to the expanded awareness and positive relationships that develop in Study Circles.

Out of the 419 participants who were involved in Study Circles last fall, 65 percent were staff members, compared with 18 percent last year. That’s a 47 percent increase! In fact, a recent grant from the Paul J. Aicher Foundation allowed every staff member from Glen Haven Elementary School and 34 teachers from the Earle B. Wood Middle School to participate in Study Circles.

In addition, schools and leadership teams are taking a more holistic approach to implementing the Study Circles model. 

•  The Leadership Team of the Office of the Chief Operating Officer is using Study Circles to develop office wide equitable practices. 
• Newport Mill Middle School has had three staff and student Study Circles along with a Spanish-language Study Circle to make sure that everyone's voice is heard. 
• White Oak Middle School had a Study Circle for its Leadership Team to address issues raised in two previous student/staff Study Circles. 

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Study Circles by the Numbers 

• 76 Study Circles since September 2008
• 419 participants during summer and fall 2009

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We Want to Hear From You 

Send us stories that capture your Study Circle experience—the impact on your life, how you think, what you've noticed, or how you've changed. Include any moments that have stayed with you or any anecdotes that you would like to share.

Please send your story, your name, which Study Circle you participated in and your contact information to the editor, Nioud Gebru, at nioud_m_gebru@mcpsmd.org, if you’d like to appear in future newsletters.

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Meet Our Staff—We're Here to Help! 

John Landesman, Program Coordinator: Before coming to Montgomery County Public Schools, John was director of Community Assistance for Everyday Democracy, a national organization that provides technical assistance to communities around the country on issues such as race relations, immigration, education reform, and police–community relations. John also was the founding director of Community Wide Dialogue on Racism and Race Relations in Central New York. He lives in Silver Spring and has children in MCPS.

Ruby Rubens, Program Coordinator: Ruby has been a resident of Montgomery County for more than 40 years. Her entire adult life has been devoted to community, civic and political activism. Ruby has volunteered many hours in her strong support of quality public education. In her professional life she has served as a federal trainer of Social Security law and an analyst with the Office of Personnel Management. At the local level, she served as the first Fair Housing Manager for Montgomery County, special assistant to Montgomery County Executive Neal Potter and ombudsman with the Montgomery County Board of Education. After exposure to the Study Circle program, she is convinced that this is one of the most productive processes to address educational barriers, especially those involving race and ethnicity.

Laurene Thomas, Parent Community Coordinator, Department of Family and Community Partnerships: Laurene, one of our lead facilitators, has worked with Study Circles since 2002, when she first facilitated a community dialogue through Impact Silver Spring. As a parent community coordinator with the school system, she serves as a bridge between home and school, working with parents and school staff to facilitate parent involvement and help families navigate the school system. Passionate about her work with the Study Circles, she values the process for the insight it gives individuals about themselves and the world. She believes the work impacts not only her generation, but will impact those to come. 

Alex Cartagena, Parent Community Coordinator, is in his second year with the Study Circles program. He graduated from McDaniel College with a major in political science and history and enjoys being able to use his focus, the application of political theory in modern day society, in his work with Study Circles. He enjoys working with communities throughout Montgomery County and is looking forward to seeing the program develop over the next couple of years. He also works with Everyday Democracy as an associate in training, with the hope of continuing his career creating racial dialogues. 

Katherine Garcia, Program Assistant/AmeriCorps Member: Katherine recently graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a double major in criminal justice and criminology, and English. She became interested in Study Circles because of its goal to break down barriers within the MCPS school system. In addition, she finds the process itself enlightening and sees that it offers its participants and staff a multitude of perspectives. She is excited to make a difference in the school system and looks forward to facilitating some Study Circles in the future.

Rahel H. Denboba, Program Assistant/AmeriCorps Member: Rahel is a proud graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law, and is an attorney licensed to practice in the state of Maryland.  She also graduated Magna Cum Laude from Temple University, receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in African American Studies.  In her spare time, she also provides pro bono legal representation to minors in the field of immigration law. During this year of service, she hopes to gain insight on how Study Circles works to break down racial and ethnic barriers and create a more unified atmosphere for parents, teachers, students and staff members that participate.

Nioud Gebru - a son, a brother, a student, a teacher, and a proud AmeriCorps, Project CHANGE member. Born in Ethiopia, he now calls Maryland home, where he attends school and is currently seeking a degree in Bio-Psychology. He is working in Montgomery County Public Schools system with the Study Circles program. He became interested in the Study circles program because of the services and unique opportunities it provides to students, parents, and the highly diverse members of the Montgomery County community to talk about race and ethnic issues unlike any other. He is looking forward to how he can increase his involvement in the community, and bring his experience in to make a difference.

Angela Chen, Program Assistant/ AmeriCorps Member: Angela recently graduated from Vanderbilt University, with a double major in Chemistry and Medicine, Health, and Society. She is back working in the same public school system she grew up in looking to help her school community through Study Circles. She hopes this year away from school will give her a new, enriching experience working with the students, parents, and staff of MCPS.

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