Concord school officials and educators are taking steps to promote inclusion and a sense of belonging among diverse students in the district through a variety of programs, both old and new.
The Calculus Project, introduced to the district in 2020, helps middle and high school students of color and economically disadvantaged students excel in advanced mathematics.
“We needed to be sure all kids had access to higher level academics and equity in that access.” Superintendent Laurie Hunter stated in a video, “we identified a very strong need… that we were not accommodating those kids appropriately.” The Calculus Project
Andrew Nyamekye works to create a culture of anti-racism in the schools as director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging for Concord and Concord-Carlisle schools. Nyamekye’s efforts have spanned from educating teachers in cultural competency to amplifying the voices of The Student Social Justice Clubs
The longstanding Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) program brings Boston students of color to Concord schools to “experience the advantages of learning and working in a diverse setting.” METCO Experience
Participants at an Oct. 13 seminar on diversity in education shared concerns, however, regarding the effectiveness of the METCO program, and the distance still to go in promoting diversity in the schools.
“We’ve had a strong partnership with the METCO program since 1967, and we still see our METCO students sitting together in the cafeteria and not integrating,” Nyamekye stated. “They are still sharing feedback to us that they do not feel part of the community. That continues to be a challenge.”