AT A GLANCE: CHR ISTIAN EDUCATION Our school currently serves over 200 students in grades PreK2-6th (ages 2-11) who benefit from St. Philip’s rigorous, nurturing, and dynamic Christian-based education.
St. Philip’s Continues to Boast Increase in Male Faculty Positive role models are critical when it comes to educating
In addition to being intentional about having a strong,
our children. This fact has not been lost on St. Philip’s School
ethnically diverse male presence in the classroom, St. Philip’s
and Community Center, where 22% of the faculty consists
also benefits from parent organizations and programs that
of ethnically diverse male teachers. This is particularly rare
provide active male involvement and mentorship. This
in an elementary school setting.
includes the Dad’s Club, a Rites of Passage program, the
So, why is having ethnically diverse male teachers
Coed Robotics Team, led by parent volunteer and robotics
important? According to researcher Travis Bristol and Peter
engineer, Terrence Southern. Male parent volunteers also
Paul, Assistant Professor at Boston University, “Diversity
lead organizations like DoDads and Real Men Pray, and the
drives innovation.” Bristol also explains that “Having a
current president of the Parent School Association is parent
African American Male Academic Bowl, and the Saints
teacher of color, or Black male teacher, can serve to disrupt
volunteer Harold Dédé.
societal preconceptions.” What St. Philip’s has been able to
At St. Philip’s School and Community Center, intentionally
accomplish by recruiting and retaining ethnically diverse male teachers should not be taken lightly, given as recently
promoting an ethnically diverse male teaching staff has not only contributed to the success of our students, but also
as 2016, Black male teachers made up just 2% of the teaching
provides the positive male role models that our community
workforce.
so desperately needs.
Top Row (L to R): Juan Hernandez, Visual Art Menkiti Rice, Technology Donavan Smith, 1st Grade Marcus Johnson, P.E. Coach Bottom Row (L to R): Jorge Perez, Spanish Tearod Robertson, Math & Science Joe Yow, Kindergarten
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WINTER MAGAZINE 2017
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