California and the nation have a long way to go to achieve true equity as it relates to diversity of leadership in education. (Graphic by S. E. Williams via AI)
by S. E. Williams-Black Voice Executive Editor
Last week, information began circulating throughout the community that something unseemly was taking shape in the Val Verde Unified School District. As more and more information entered the community ether about what seemed almost certain to be the dismissal of two leaders within the Val Verde School district without explanation, district superintendent Dr. Gordon Amerson and the district’s assistant superintendent for Human Resources, Nicky Fuller—both Black.
Members of the community began to coalesce around a common cause—to seek an explanation for the dismissals and if unwarranted—to push back against the actions. A special meeting of the Val Verde School Board District was scheduled for Friday to discuss the issue in closed session.
I’m sure there are plenty of nay-sayers who will read this opinion piece and say…”Oh, there she goes again, playing the race card.”
California and the nation have a long way to go to achieve true equity as it relates to diversity of leadership in education. Let me first say for the record, that race is not a “thing”. It’s just one of the many constructs erected by those with a white supremacist mindset to categorize people and then place them in some misguided hierarchical order, with you know who at the top of the hierarchy typically reaping the benefits of leadership and maintaining control over everything.
So, in response to the nay-sayers, “No,” the Black community is not playing “the race card,” and neither am I because we know how some people like to accuse Black folks of playing it. This lazy statement “the race card” just makes it easier for nay-sayers to be dismissive of Black grievances.
In this instance, as in other instances where members of the Black community rally in support of a person treated unfairly, an action taken unjustly, or a cause felt deep in the hearts of the Black community, Black people brought receipts to Friday’s board meeting.
Dr. Amerson has delivered a laudable performance his first years on the job and both he and Fuller just recently received good job performance evaluations this year. And to top it all off, the board also offered Amerson a new three year contract. In addition, both received salary increases this year. Certainly, this would not have happened had either of them performed below standards and expectations.
So what changed in their performances almost overnight? Why the sudden sense of urgency to dismiss Gordon and Fuller? And, why now, I wondered?
As far as school administrators go, school superintendents are at the top of the ladder in the world of education. They control local curriculums, budgets, and disciplinary policies. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that this field–like most everything else in this country— is dominated by white men.
Here in California, for example, there are 947 public school districts but only about 25 African-American superintendents. That equates to about 2.6% of the state’s superintendents. This is far below the national percentage.
“Strength can come from the power of many but only when the many comes together to form that which is invisible…the power of one.”
— Unknown
Though the percentage is higher nationally with 4.7 percent of superintendent roles held by Blacks nationwide, the number is still dismal. So, where else might we look for an explanation of the Val Verde School District’s sudden urge to fire Black people?
Well, since this is an election year, I choose to start with a group of far right-wing education activists called Moms for Liberty. This organization has a very active chapter in Riverside County. The organization’s website touts them as a group “dedicated to the survival of America by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.”
To this group, survival of America looks like banning certain books, especially those that speak to the significant role slavery playing in the founding of America and laying the economic foundation for its wealth. In addition, this group doesn’t like anything that even has an air of diversity particularly in the realm of education; and as importantly, the organization is also recognized nationwide for challenging school districts across nationwide that hire superintendents of color.
It seems likely that Moms for Liberty may hold sway over some members of the Val Verde School board. However, as Bob Dylan once sang, “The times. . . they are a changin’ …
Across the country organizations like Moms for Liberty and other right-wing groups are beginning to slip in popularity. Maybe the country is finally beginning to awaken from its nationalist nightmare.
Whether or not my last statement is true, what I do know for sure is that Blacks and others in the inland region are standing together as a bulwark against injustice to help ensure any threatened actions similar to what was being considered in the Val Verde scenario, will be met with the “power of one”.
Of course, this is just my opinion. I’m keeping it real.
