Working with Diverse Populations

Marshall M. Stewart, Ed.S.

One area in which I take extreme joy is working with diverse populations to bring about significant, positive results. When I arrived in August of 2007, Newton-Conover High School was on its last year of probation before a state intervention team was scheduled to take over the school. The school make-up was 51% white, black 17%, Hispanic 18%, Asian Hmong 9%, and 5% other. Tenth grade writing test scores/proficiency was at 40%; other EOC scores were comparable in science, math, and social studies. I was tasked with turning around writing scores, improving classroom discipline/management, and leading staff development to improve scores across the tested area. I facilitated a school-wide writing in-service the first day back. The two-hour training laid a groundwork as to what all writing expectations had to be in all academic areas. I then worked closely with the English Department to insure a set of consistent expectations were adhered to and shared with other departments. Additionally, I made sure to take all tenth grade regular and inclusion classes and work closely with all students at the lower level of academic achievement. Success in working with diverse populations exceeded 70%. At the end of six months, when the state writing assessment took place in March, the school’s proficiency level jumped to 78%. That number increased each year over the next three to 84%, when the state dropped the assessment. More importantly, similar growths occurred on the math, science, and social studies EOCs; coupled with my work to increase the number of students enrolled in AP courses, Newton-Conover was recognized by US News and World Report as one of the top 20 high schools in the state, an improbable leap from the doorstep of state intervention.

Diversity should not be seen as a handicap; no, it should be seen as an opportunity. In fact, maybe “opportunitIES” is better. Diversity offers the opportunity to learn from others, listen to stories vastly different from out own, learn of different cultures, dreams, and expectations. Most importantly, it is the priceless opportunity to learn of their stories.