Culture, Class, and Race: Constructive Conversations That Unite and Energize Your School and Community

Advancing equity in our schools and society requires deep thought and honest conversations about tough topics. These conversations about emotionally charged subjects, including race, class, and culture, can be daunting.

Authors Brenda CampbellJones, Shannon Keeny, and Franklin CampbellJones, experts in research and equitable practices, guide you through a meaningful framework for thinking about, preparing for, and having such critical conversations. They invite you to ponder your own cultural identity and assumptions, reflect and deeply consider values and beliefs, and then understand how these factors affect your conversations and interactions with others.

They provide essential information about the types of conversations and behaviors we all consciously and subconsciously exhibit and witness, with authentic stories and experiences from people who have used the authors' framework to enrich their communities. As you explore the information and activities in this book that are specifically designed to help you scaffold new ideas into practice, you and your colleagues will examine biases and begin to build equitable experiences for all students.

The book's field-tested approach enables every educator to grow professionally by using the power of conversation to develop trust, ask powerful questions, really hear the answers—and learn together in ways that strengthen and invigorate the school and community.

Dr. Brenda CampbellJones is president of CampbellJones & Associates. She provides professional learning and technical assistance to school districts throughout the United States and Canada. Brenda has served as a teacher, an elementary principal, an award-winning middle school principal, an area superintendent, and a university professor. As regional director of the California School Leadership Academy, she led the staff development efforts for 33 school districts. Brenda coaches and facilitates the change process in school districts that are making systemic changes for student academic and social achievement. She is coauthor of the best-selling book The Cultural Proficiency Journey: Moving Beyond Ethical Barriers Toward Profound School Change.

Shannon Keeny specializes in supporting schools, offices, and communities to effectively engage in conversations that help explore access, fairness, and belongingness in the educational environment. Shannon's passion drives her to honor each person's lived experience by creating space in which we can all learn and grow. Immersed in this work for more than a decade, the core of her efforts is ensuring that people are valued, accepted, and honored. Shannon has served the educational community as a teacher and facilitator for the Howard County (Maryland) Public School System and adjunct professor at McDaniel College. She presents at national and international conferences.

Dr. Franklin CampbellJones works closely with schools and educational systems in the United States and Canada to ensure establishment and maintenance of equitable learning environments for children. His life's work includes service to education as a high school social science and reading teacher, school administrator, district office director, and state director for the California School Leadership Academy. Franklin was also professor of education leadership at CSU Los Angeles, Rowan University, and Towson University. His books include The Culturally Proficient School: An Implementation Guide for School Leaders, The Cultural Proficiency Journey: Moving Beyond Ethical Barriers Toward Profound School Change, and Journey of Spirit, Walk of Faith: Our Relationship with God.