2008 Woodie Awards
Local educator wins Oxford NAACP diversity award
Sarah Foster
Issue date: 3/23/07 Section: Community
Efforts of Oxford citizens to promote diversity throughout the community have been recognized this year by the Oxford chapter of the NAACP, with the creation of their new Outstanding Diversity Educator award.
The award, established earlier this year by the Oxford chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) unit's education committee, intends to recognize individuals who have effectively promoted diversity in education.
"We wanted to recognize individuals in the community who are working towards making a positive difference in their community," said Vanessa Cummings, member of the NAACP education committee. "We felt it was time to recognize those who have gone the extra mile in recognizing diversity and educating students about diversity and biased issues."
The education committee formed a partnership with the Talawanda School District climate committee, and they collaborated on the creation of the award. The school district's climate committee is a group of individuals established to address issues on improving the climate or atmosphere in the Talawanda school district.
Amy Young, an English teacher at Talawanda High School (THS) and a member of the Talawanda School climate committee, was selected as the first recipient of the award.
Young was awarded for her efforts in promoting diversity awareness in her classroom and school, according to Cummings.
In the classroom, Young teaches her students about important issues on diversity and helps them develop new understandings of cultures. For instance, Young taught her students a lesson centered on Appalachian culture. Students in Young's classes learn about new cultures and the stereotypes that go along with those cultures.
Kalinde Webb, English and journalism teacher at THS, said Young provides her students with a diverse curriculum, including many supplemental materials from current periodicals and works of fiction.
As part of her push for diversity education, Webb said Young received a grant for an Appalachian literature unit she includes in her American literature classes, as part of a thorough course that represents many elements of the American experience.Â
The award, established earlier this year by the Oxford chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) unit's education committee, intends to recognize individuals who have effectively promoted diversity in education.
"We wanted to recognize individuals in the community who are working towards making a positive difference in their community," said Vanessa Cummings, member of the NAACP education committee. "We felt it was time to recognize those who have gone the extra mile in recognizing diversity and educating students about diversity and biased issues."
The education committee formed a partnership with the Talawanda School District climate committee, and they collaborated on the creation of the award. The school district's climate committee is a group of individuals established to address issues on improving the climate or atmosphere in the Talawanda school district.
Amy Young, an English teacher at Talawanda High School (THS) and a member of the Talawanda School climate committee, was selected as the first recipient of the award.
Young was awarded for her efforts in promoting diversity awareness in her classroom and school, according to Cummings.
In the classroom, Young teaches her students about important issues on diversity and helps them develop new understandings of cultures. For instance, Young taught her students a lesson centered on Appalachian culture. Students in Young's classes learn about new cultures and the stereotypes that go along with those cultures.
Kalinde Webb, English and journalism teacher at THS, said Young provides her students with a diverse curriculum, including many supplemental materials from current periodicals and works of fiction.
As part of her push for diversity education, Webb said Young received a grant for an Appalachian literature unit she includes in her American literature classes, as part of a thorough course that represents many elements of the American experience.Â
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