Change the Narrative: How to Foster an Antiracist Culture in Your School

by Henry Turner, Kathy Lopes

Dismantling Racism Starts with You School leaders, in partnership with educators, students, parents, and the community, have remarkable potential to change the narrative so that all students, regardless of race, can feel seen, empowered, and engaged in their learning communities. Through the lens and actions of antiracism, Change the Narrative provides a pathway for school administrators, leaders, and change agents who want to put into action the values of antiracism in their school community every day. Henry J. Turner and Kathy Lopes, a high school principal and a director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Newton Public Schools in Massachusetts, weave their professional experiences and their personal stories to connect the reader to the importance of the consistent routines, ongoing learning, and structural changes that will help foster an antiracist school culture. Full of practical and effective strategies, this book is for those who have been fighting for equity their entire career as well as those who are just beginning on their journey. It will push you to expand your mindset in new ways and serve as a reference you can return to as often as you need.

236 pages, Paperback

Published May 4, 2022

Reviews

[Karen Ghiron]

This is a great read for parents, teachers, administrators, principals and Superintendents and a must read for an up to date how to, on how to have an anti-racist school which then becomes an anti-racist community and country. In order to make change we all need to learn, first about our own biases and upbringing about race and the false history we learned growing up. Systemic Racism is pervasive and Henry Turner and Kathy Lopes describes why this work needs to be done in our schools and community. Henry shares how he began the work at Newton North 8 years ago. His plans were to bring the anti-racist work to North, but was soon immersed in dealing with the anger and unrest students experienced after a truck drove around the community with confederate flags waving. Students wanted to express their upset and how it affected them, Principal Turner responded by listening and acting and helping the students express their anger. Since then Turner has helped the staff learn about their own biases and slowly make changes to meet teachers and students where they are at in their own journeys around race. Affinity groups are set up for students of brown and black , Asian and Latinx groups. Cultural Responsive workshops are held for teacher training, to be a safer school and classrooms for students of traditionally marginalized groups. Leadership groups have been established to make the school better in response to hate attacks in the school and outside as well as recognition and discussions in affinity groups so students can feel supported in a safe space. Henry and his staff continue to help students who may have not traditionally challenged themselves in upper level classes to create mixed level classes. This has proved a success with many of students seeing they can perform and challenge themselves. Many students have gone on to take Honors and AP level classes. Overall this book is a great read for all that want to make an anti-racist school that makes students feel they belong and are loved. Which Henry and Kathy Lopes says is so important in this work.. Kathy Lopes also works with the parent community FORJ to bridge what the parents are learning and doing to help make change in the home and family community. This work helps all students, black, brown, & white, to be leaders, and prepared for diverse workplaces and research centers and articulate agents of change and a better society overall. A great read and must for 21st Century schools and learning !

[Esta Montano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review on my bookstagram coming...stay tuned.

[Kristen Iworsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much needed book.

[Christine Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really wish I worked with these two authors. All of their advice is sound and practical and achievable with the right mindset.