Saratoga News

Diversity workshop puts students in teachers' roles

By Michelle Alaimo

In a reversal of roles, student facilitators from Saratoga High School taught teachers and staff of the Saratoga Union School District and Saratoga High School about cultural awareness and diversity.

The event was part of a joint staff work day on Oct. 20 at which teachers and students joined together for the first time and focused on a central issue, SHS Vice Principal Karen Hyde said.

Seventeen student facilitators from the Inter Cultural Council at SHS guided teachers from different Saratoga schools in group discussions on a variety of diversity issues. Student facilitator Mandy Manousos said she discussed with teachers how it feels to be part of a group, how it feels to be left out of a group, and stereotypes and emotions.

While the more than 200 teachers and staff members were required to attend the all-day workshops, some apparently got more out of it than others.

"Some of the teachers were receptive, and some weren't," Manousos said.

SHS academic advisor Noreen Likens, who participated in the workshops, said the day was interesting, especially with having students teach the adults.

"Talking about student problems with students on the campus takes out the middle guy," Hyde said.

Teachers and staff started off in small groups and worked with their facilitators. Later in the day, larger groups were formed, and teachers discussed what can be done at their schools to ease tensions.

SUSD Superintendent Mary Gardner said the groups generated a lot of energy, and that teachers and staff are determined not to let this issue drop now that the workshop is over.

Gardner said schools will work with parent groups to inform them of goals and issues that have been discussed. She also hopes to have workshops with parents.

The idea of a joint staff day first came up in spring, when representatives from the ICC met with members of SUSD's multicultural committee, Gardner said. The ICC was interested in starting some type of conflict-management program, and the two groups realized they had common goals and joined to work together.

"I think we've started something that has great value," Gardner said, adding that she hopes that SHS and the SUSD can have more meetings and workshops on common goals at least every other year, if not every year.

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