Recently, I attended a conference sponsored by the Village Initiative for Equity in Education to hear the findings of its 6th Annual Equity Report. I was in good company. As I took my seat, I noticed some familiar faces from the Williamsburg City Council, the Williamsburg-James City-County School Board, and the James City-County Board of Supervisors. Teachers and principals were also on hand, along with parents and concerned citizens. I belonged to the latter group.
The Equity Report evaluates Williamsburg-James City County schools on academic performance, discipline, gifted education services, and teacher support. It is based on public data from the Virginia Department of Education and her WJCC Public Schools and is designed to help community members understand the importance of equity and diversity to ensure the success of all students.
From 2004 to 2021, when my children were students at WJCC schools, I had several issues with the school system and documented my concerns via email and contacted school officials. By meeting with them, I realized that I am always advocating for children. I attended the April 22nd meeting to see if these issues were resolved.
One of my big concerns is that black students are underrepresented in gifted education, known as the Vision Program. I had to insist that my children be tested, identified, and receive gifted education services.
Black students, who make up 18.4% of the student population, remain an issue, but only 5.7% were identified and received gift services, the report said. Meanwhile, White students made up 55.6% of the student population and 77.2% identified and received gifted education services.
When my daughter started kindergarten in 2007, there were no black teachers in the classroom, just a few teacher's aides. I met with the principal to discuss concerns about the underrepresentation of Black teachers. I said, “Kids need to see people in authority who look like them.” He responded by assigning a black student teacher to my daughter's class. A few years later, a black assistant principal was hired.
The stock report reveals a “crisis level shortage of teachers of color,” particularly at James River Elementary School, where 77.2% of the student population is of color. It was revealed that only 4.2% of people are people of color.
When I volunteered at children's elementary and middle schools, I noticed a disparity in the way some students were treated and disciplined. Black and Hispanic students were sent to the principal's office for minor infractions that would have given white students permission. Racial disparities persist today, with black, Hispanic, and mixed-race students making up 43% of the student population and 76% of those on long-term suspensions.
When it comes to academic achievement, the report found that disparities based on race and socio-economic factors have widened by double digits. “I wish the findings had been different,” lamented Jacqueline Bridgeforth Williams, founder and executive director of the Village Initiative. “We've seen this six years in a row.”
Following the presentation, parents, teachers and community leaders shared their thoughts on how to fix the school system.
“We shouldn't be afraid to call out that racism is the root of the problem,” said one concerned citizen.
Concerns about racism in the WJCC school system are nothing new. In 2020, a group of Jamestown High School students launched the Student Alliance for Racial Equity. They shared with the WJCC Board of Education the hostile racial experiences middle school and high school students have had. However, as the students graduated, the group lost its way.
As I listened to the feedback on the report, I thought about the African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child.” This calls for the entire community to “build a bigger table” to create environments and experiences in which all children can thrive.
We all win when we come together to build fairer and more just communities for our children.
Laura D. Hill is executive director of the Virginia Institute for Racial Healing, which manages “Coming to the Table-Historic Triangle.” To learn more about her research, visit varacialhealinginstitute.org.