All school districts have had to focus on innovative ways of teaching during the coronavirus pandemic, and Bedford Schools has been no different. Still, while tackling that unique issue, the district has also been able to position itself to address the other major topic facing our country right now — social justice.

Starting Sept. 16, the district will be holding its first community forum to have “courageous conversations” about equity, equality and justice. It is open to the public, but since it will be held virtually, attendees will need to register. The deadline to RSVP is Friday, Sept. 11. You can link to the site here.

The forum is part of a larger initiative called Bearcats Building Bridges to Social Justice. Superintendent Dr. Andrea Celico said at the school board meeting last week that there are three forums planned altogether for this year, with the first scheduled to help lay the foundational groundwork for the initiative. She said she wished the first forum could be done in-person instead of virtually due to the pandemic, but the district is nonetheless really excited about the videoconference and all of the other plans in the works.

“This is not something (where) we Are going to do one community session and call it quits. We have a number of things in place…”

Superintendent Dr. Andrea Celico

“This is not a one-and-done,” Celico said about the forum. “This is not something (where) we are going to do one community session and call it quits. We have a number of things in place that will be systemic and ongoing that will affect a lot of people including our community members. … It is long overdue and I think we are in a very good place.”

One of the first steps in the initiative is the training of teachers and administrators, and this year’s professional development was rich in social justice topics such as Universal Design of the Learning (UDL), Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and educational equity.

Celico singled out equity as an area the district has already been actively addressing. A committee had been previously established to specifically to deal with the issue. According to edglossary.org, equity in education refers to fairness. Working on equity means rooting out any biases or unfair policies that “contribute to a lack of equality in educational performance, results and outcomes.” Celico said this committee will now be refocused and placed under the Building Bridges framework.

Another portion of the professional development program featured the Rev. Larry Macon Jr. of Oakwood’s Mt. Zion Church. He spoke to the teachers about social justice, and then the movie American Son was shown. Celico said that out of the 250-plus people who viewed the film, there were only a few dry eyes afterwards. She said the dialogue that the movie induced was amazing, and that people seemed eager to share their views.

“I can’t say enough about it,” she said. “And the feedback we received as I walked around the district… the thank-yous and the long overdue conversations. … People were touched and moved. It’s built a lot of momentum and I think a lot of awareness so that people are ready. (Now) we are going to delve further into our conversations.”

At the board meeting, Celico gave each member the book White Fragility to read so they could discuss parts of it at a later time. She said she had also given the book to other administrators. This is just the beginning of the district using books and movies in order to help encourage people to talk.

Celico said the district has also been brainstorming with art teachers about ways a mural can be created in front of the high school to highlight social justice awareness. She said that the teachers were “extremely excited” about the prospect of working with students to craft the artwork, and that the mural might be displayed in the high school visitors’ parking lot.

After Celico gave her presentation at the meeting, board member Eva Boyington responded to offer her gratitude about the program.

“Dr. Celico, I would like to thank you right here openly for bringing the social justice initiative to Bedford,” Boyington said. “I think it is much needed, and I think you have done a great job so far getting started, especially with the professional development. I think it’s a great thing. The children need it. The families need it. The community needs it.”

During the meeting, Celico presented a video about the Building Bridges program that you can view here.