Lawrence Township Superintendent Talks Inclusion On National Stage

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ — Lawrence Township Superintendent of Schools Crystal Edwards encouraged other school superintendents from across the nation and Canada to develop inclusive environments in their districts during a recent conference.

Edwards presented “Confronting the Unspeakables in Our Schools” at the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) 2017 Seminar in San Antonio, TX on July 10, 2017. The NSPRA Seminar is a three and one-half day session, held each July, which offers more than 70 topics on a wide array of school communication issues and is the most comprehensive communication workshop for educators anywhere.

In her presentation, Edwards said racism, indifference, stereotyping, LGBTQ-phobia and poverty are just a few of the “unspeakables” that seep into classrooms, schools, district, and communities. She outlined the collective efforts of superintendents in Mercer County to pave the way for conversations about race, class and gender in their schools.

Edwards focused on the Day of Dialogue (DOD) initiative. The DOD is a conference that brings students together for an educational experience promoting conversation, awareness and action around diversity, differences, and issues surrounding both of these topics.

The first DOD took place in February of 2016, and two additional two-day sessions ensued the following school year. The most recent session brought together 11 students and five staff members from each Mercer County high school, Montgomery High School, and Allentown High School at Rider University to continue sometimes difficult conversations about “unspeakables.”

Edwards noted:

• The use of the “N” word in classrooms, halls, etc., makes it seem acceptable to use, whether within a special racial group or across racial groups; and
• Your coworkers are talking with disdain about “those immigrants” as if they’re one big group. It would never occur to your coworkers to learn more about the various stories that brought people to the United States, or to get to know the new coworkers.

These statements are examples of discussion starters used with students during a Day of Dialogue. The Center for Supportive Schools lead the events.

“Speaking before a group of superintendents, Crystal Edwards opened the minds of many by challenging her peers to work directly with students to develop inclusive environments in their school communities,” NSPRA Executive Director Rich Bagin said. “They appreciated her direct style and concrete examples which they can use to become a catalyst in their own school districts.”

The National School Public Relations Association is a leader in school communications. Since 1935, it has provided communication training and services to school leaders throughout the United States, Canada, and the U.S. Dependent Schools worldwide.

The attached image was provided by the Lawrence Township Public School District