Dear Team Promise,
The events of the last 4 months: the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, George Floyd, and the intentionally false accusation of Christian Cooper, have left us heartbroken, angry and in pain. The subsequent protesting is a natural overflow of emotions that the perpetual killing of unarmed Black men and women have provoked. Promise Community Schools has a stance regarding the social injustices that are occurring. As your superintendent, I want to make sure that you know it and that you are prepared to support it. Our collective truth is listed here:
1. Promise Community Schools is not “colorblind”. We have 66 nationalities represented in our school district and at least 27 different languages spoken. We see color and culture and we celebrate it. Our distinct differences in every way – race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and abilities – makes us great. If you believe otherwise, you are working for the wrong school network.
2. We recognize that systemic racism and oppression are real and that they adversely impact all of our students and faculty of color in tangibly insidious, material, and painful ways. We are not okay with this.
3. We recognize that the constant barrage of microaggressions and racism are both exhausting, demoralizing and debilitating for those who are subjugated to it.
4. We recognize that the daily experience of racism and microaggressions is doing damage to our students, faculty of color, and our society. In this vein, we acknowledge that a “state of emergency” in America did not just happen. For many of us (POC) we have been living in a state of fear and emergency for a while.
5. We recognize that those of us experiencing racism and microaggression are hurting and are tired. Therefore, as a district we do not remain neutral or passive. Rather, we work to reply with empathy, understanding, openness and action. This is not a Black problem. This is our problem and we are all called to respond.
6. We absolutely reject oppression and racism in every form and do not attempt to justify it or explain away injustice by scrutinizing the victims.
7. We acknowledge that we cannot inoculate our students of color against racism and microaggressions. But we ardently hold fast to our mantra of True Choice in an effort to prepare our students so that they can leave us and thrive and not be crushed the oppression in our society. We must continue to prepare our communities’ next civic leaders and cultivate personal agency in our collective effort to dismantle systemic oppression.
8. We understand that conversations of about race can be uncomfortable, scary and new for some. But, we will not avoid these important conversations. Rather we will have them with integrity, compassion, patience, openness and accountability. There is a place for everyone in the dialogue.
9. We will ensure that students always have an abundance of teachers who are of color and who are linguistically diverse in order to serve their needs for affinity, role models, and learning.
10. We will remain actively committed to the struggle against racism until racism no longer exists.
Like so many of you, I am tired and hurting. I have cried endless tears, had countless conversations, and have struggled to explain to my daughter why this keeps happening. I believe, however, that there is hope and we all have a part to play in rebuilding our society more humanely and justly. I encourage everyone to take time to reflect and make sure that we are not doing anything to perpetuate the current climate. I also encourage you to determine how you can work towards improving the current climate in your personal and professional lives. If we do our part, these deaths will not be in vain, and we will have served our children well.
Still trying to catch my breath,
Anastasia
Anastasia Lindo Anderson, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools