Diversity: Adding the Difference to our Assets
By Monica Walker, Diversity Officer

Since October is Diversity Awareness month it seemed appropriate to introduce the GCS diversity office, its programs and plans for the future. Watch for events throughout the month on GCSTV 2 and other venues.

If someone had asked me if I was planning to become a diversity officer when I grew up – I probably would have responded, “What is that?” The simple truth is that no such position or profession existed 30 years ago.  Today, in corporate America alone, thousands of individuals serve in some official role of diversity education and leadership; add to that those employed with colleges, universities and school systems, and you have a growing profession.    

It is the constantly growing and changing population in North Carolina and Guilford County that justifies and makes possible the diversity officer’s role. We count as diversity, the measure of differences based on race, class, culture, gender, language, disabilities and religion, among others. With these changes, comes challenge.

Currently, GCS students speak 70 different languages or dialects and represent 106 ethnic cultures. This makes for a tremendous range of experiences, and it is the differential in these experiences that tend to define our learning curve. 

My role as the first GCS diversity officer is to help bridge the gap in these learning curves by helping teachers and administrators acknowledge, respect and prepare for the challenge of different learning styles. My office also provides training, facilitation and mediation to promote more positive relationships between teachers, students and parents in our schools.

A tremendous asset to the cause of diversity is the Johnnetta B. Cole Diversity Institute (JBCDI) that was started in 2003 at Bennett College for Women. The JBCDI is spearheaded by the college’s former president, Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole. In my first year as diversity officer, I sought the advice and support from some of the leading diversity specialists that I met through the institute.   

I am working with the president of the JBCDI, Bea Perdue, to include girls from GCS in the institute’s new PowerGirls program. Additionally, I work closely with Mission Possible schools, the GCS Newcomers School, School Climate Task Force, Guilford County Human Relations Education Committee and any of our individual schools requesting diversity training as a proactive way of increasing teaching abilities. 

As part of the Principal’s Leadership Institute, the diversity office distributed posters for every classroom, referencing the Board’s policy of guaranteeing respect and safety for students and teachers. That, indeed, is what my office was established to promote and protect. Training is our number one priority; respect is our number one goal.

Our differences have too often been the catalyst for fear and isolation. We fear what we don’t know about each other and seem more afraid to find out. I hope that by introducing and promoting diversity at GCS that we can grow together, for we are stronger together than we are apart.

Monica Walker holds a master’s degree in Rural Planning and Administration from the University of Massachusetts and a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Alabama. 

Do you know GCS employees that should be spotlighted for their efforts on and off the job? Contact Lynne Brandon at 370-8353 or brandol@gcsnc.com to share their stories.