‘We have to stop being in denial’: Duval County Public Schools hosts discussion on bias

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Duval County Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene tackled bias in a panel discussion Friday with representatives from the City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

The panel was the last of ten total sessions about managing unconscious bias. It was put together by Duval County Public Schools, in partnership with the Jacksonville Public Education Fund and Parents Who Lead. About 400 parents total attended the sessions, which were motivated by an 8-year-old’s comments.

“We were watching the news and she just blurted out ‘I wish my dad were white’. I kind of ignored it, then she followed back up with I don’t want him to get hurt,” Tia Leathers, the executive director for family and community engagement, said. “As parents we don’t always know what’s happening at school — and it’s happening sometimes.”

Leathers said it’s important to have conversations about bias with your children. She worked with a Duval mother of three, Whitney Touchton to create the program Managing Unconscious Bias.

“Being able to identify some of those thoughts we might have that aren’t necessarily based on fact, but something we’ve heard or generalized,” Touchton said. “Especially white people who maybe aren’t familiar to be able to have these conversations and figure out what they’re missing.”

Superintendent Dr. Greene said DCPS has an equity office and they are looking to hire a director of equity to work directly with children.

“We are at a good place, but we need to be better,” she said during Friday’s panel discussion.

Leathers said the district is now working to create a program for educators.

Cox Media Group