The exception

In class on Tuesday we began to talk about how there is very little diversity among faculty in schools. I attended a diverse school district and after hearing about everyone else in the calsses schools, I must say that my school doesn't fit the norm. My schooling from elementary up was filled with a diverse faculty. I have had African American teachers, counselors and principals, Chinese teachers, Hispanic teachers, Indian teachers and that's just what I can come up with off the top of my head. I have talked with other people plenty of times about the diversity of their student body, but the topic of the diversity amongst faculty I have never discussed. In this I never got an understanding of what other schools staff was comprised of. I guess I just always assumed that the faculty of a school was a pretty good representation of the student body, apparently I was entirely wrong and my school district was rare. I've always felt privileged to have attended a school district that had a highly diverse student body. Now looking back on my district, I realize that I was privileged to have a diverse staff as well. Growing up with role models of all different races definitely helped to shape my views on race. Seeing the diversity among the staff allowed myself and my peers to feel we could make something of ourselves regardless of our race. As great of an experience my school gave me through diversity among the staff, I do know now that we were the exception and most schools are not as lucky to have that diversity. I dont know the exact solution to this problem could be, (maybe using something like the Rooney rule would help) but I do know that something needs to be done to increase the diversity among school faculty. Schools are such a large influence on a child's life and without being around diversity, their personal development is hindered.
-Ryan Fleming blog post#18