Annandale High School students launch an Equity Team to combat racial bias
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| The Annandale High School Class of 2021. |
Students at Annandale High School formed an Equity Team with the goal of creating a climate at the school that is more responsive to students from diverse backgrounds.
“I see so many instances where people from underrepresented groups are not supported or face implicit bias from teachers, coaches, and counselors,” says AHS senior Jimmy Le, who cofounded the Equity Team with Jewel Coulter, a junior.
Students of color and students learning English get the message that “you’re not welcome here; this space isn’t for you,” Le says.
All Fairfax County schools, especially AHS, take pride in their diversity, but “there’s a lot we can do as a community to improve and fight for success among traditionally underrepresented groups,” he says.
Underrepresented groups neglected
There about 50 students from all backgrounds, ethnicities, and sexual orientations on the Equity Team, which was officially launched in September. Justice High School students who started an Equity Team at their school offered advice.
The AHS team has formed committees to work on specific issues: access to IB and honors classes, antiracism education, participation in the arts and athletics, curriculum, LGBTQ+ representation, pyramid development, college assistance, and English language learner access to AHS opportunities.
Every committee has a teacher or administrator providing support, although it’s a student-led movement and students are doing the work. “We need faculty to get the change we want,” Le says. English teacher Ingrid St. Clair and Brent Roberson, systems of support advisor, are serving as AHS staff liaisons to the Equity Team.
When Le entered AHS four years ago, “I never expected to be leading something like this or have the courage to do this,” he says. Even though he has a lot of things going on – he is working toward an IB diploma, applying to colleges, and has a job supervising interns at the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) – Le says the Equity Team is really important.
Growing up as the son of Vietnamese refugees, Le experienced bias firsthand at North Springfield Elementary School and Holmes Middle School, as well as AHS. However, he acknowledges, “even I have certain privileges by not being Black.”
“We still have a different experience from white students,” he says. “We live in a country where white people are still dominant.”
At AHS, he finds “people are complacent about racism, and microaggressions are tolerated.” It’s often subtle, and “students don’t think what they’re saying is offensive.”
“That’s where the antiracism committee comes in. It focuses on changing the mindsets, so people are aware of their actions and can learn from them,” Le says.
Changing the mindset
Even though whites make up just 10 to 15 percent of the student body at Annandale, that doesn’t mean the school is exempt from implicit bias.
At AHS, white students are concentrated in IB and honors classes. Le’s IB history class is 60 to 70 percent white.
Black students are discouraged from taking advanced courses, he notes. Counselors tell them an IB math course is really hard, for example, and ask if they’re sure they can handle it. “Counselors, teachers, and administrators aren’t aware they hold these values.”
“Students taking English as a second language are definitely ostracized,” Le adds. Other students tend not to talk to them.
The Equity Team’s mission statement calls for students, faculty, administration, and community members to work collaboratively to create “a culture that embraces and respects students from all identities; the transformation of procedures, policies, and pedagogies; and cultural responsiveness in the allocation of resources in order to promote success for students from historically underserved backgrounds.”
Talking about race is difficult, and people avoid those conversations, Le says. So that’s where the Equity Team is starting.
But the students aren’t going to stop with conversations, he says. “We want to create change. We want to reform policies.”
16 responses to “Annandale High School students launch an Equity Team to combat racial bias”
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I'm white, female and a retired FCPS teacher. I grew up in FxCo, attended FCPS and my guidance counselor told me I'd never make it in a 4 year college. I didn't listen to her. Do what you think you can do and please, stop saddling minorities with your low expectations.
Yea really, next they will be lowering the bar for my cat to gain entry.
Looks like its already 'diverse'. I know it was in the late 90s when I attended. https://www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/schools/0126000423/school.aspx#:~:text=Compare%20Details%20Student%20population%20at,%2C%20African%20American%20(16.4%25).
I think you missed the point of the article.
Nah I got the point. Even though the majority of the student population are "minorities" they don't seem to be able to keep up in the more advanced classes…
Anyone with the desire to work hard and learn is free to pursue an IB diploma. There are many lies about IB at AHS including that it is to much work and that you get no credit in college, even if you do well on the tests. It’s a joke to blame the counselors. Come on, man!
My two kids both are recent graduates of AHS and this article puzzles me. I can’t speak to any bias on the part of the administration or staff but I do know that my kids suffered social stigmatization from many of their fellow students simply because my kids are White. My son was assaulted by a group of Latin boys and was regularly harassed and mocked by Asian boys. My daughter was called “ghost” because of her fair complexion and was continually harassed and insulted by Latin girls. The mother of her closest friend once asked that friend to drop my daughter as a friend because she wasn’t Asian. My message to students at AHS would be to focus on yourselves first. As Latin and Asian kids are in the majority there, they have a unique opportunity to demonstrate how they would hope to be treated by the larger would. So far, however, they appear to be exerting the same racial biases that they see in others.
Approach grindstone and apply nose…. Life is more difficult for most (and probably for these kids – apparently due to micro aggressions) and the silver spoons will always have an advantage, but ANYONE can make their own success in this country. Create your own wealth and success.
I am curious if any of the respondents to this article are not White people? My last child graduated 10 years ago, so I can't speak to the school as it is currently staffed. And while there were wonderful people there when my kids were there, it was definitely affected by bias. I applaud these students for helping to improve their school.
Sir, improve……how? Your quote "it was definitely affected by bias" I presume based on this article that you're referring to the faculty and administration of AHS that had inflicted this bias upon your child(ren) that impacted their later years of success and contribution to our society? I am waiving the b.s flag.
If your loved ones experienced bias from other kids….. bullying, name calling, racist comments etc…. yeah thats tough but then in four years H.S. is over and then it is on to the next challenge.
I see this Equity Team as a big whiner convention…. the white kids are less than 15% of the population, and they are more picked on than the reverse! Mom and Dad haven't departed, a la white flight, because they are trying to integrate and contribute to their community unfortunately at their kids expense!
If these students REALLY think they are being held back or disadvantaged because of the perceived bias from the caucasian faculty then get it on tape!
What the heck are they going to do when they get cut from a sports team? Form an equity team for that!?!
One thing is for certain, Pupal LE is going to have one hell of a college admissions essay when he applies to UVA : – D
Yes, my children were treated unfairly by certain staff members. I am not sure that I accept your definition of bias that it is required to "[affect] their later years of success and contribution to our society." Presumably, you don't agree with this activity by students, i.e, "yeah, that's tough", "whiner convention" but I applaud their interest in bettering their lives. As to your comment about getting cut from sports teams, sports teams are an optional activity that have little to do with why students are actually at school; i.e, an academic education whereas an advanced class is a specific, academic activity. Regardless, I applaud your understanding and caring approach to our community's youth.
Nice article. As an Annandale parent who has support for this equity team, I can say that this information is accurate. It is also important that this is not some direct attack on the faculty or administration – there are many great people who work at Annandale HS. What is important is that there is clearly an equity issue on many fronts and we have to recognize our faults before we can expect to improve. If you can't see that, you aren't looking hard enough.
Fine then…. to wipe out all equity issues then everyone should go to the same type of school, no private schools, no advanced classes, no T.J. and regardless of where you live your schools are selected for you by lottery. Presto – chango!
Wow these comments are harsh. I love the “whiner convention” one. Shows someone who is insecure with themselves get angry at a couple of kids trying to create change for the better. Why don’t you take a look at your own life before trying to dictate what other people should do. Do you go to that school? Have you seen first hand what it’s like? I feel like these are all things that should go through someone’s head before they start complaining. Just think, you’re sitting behind a computer trashing these kids at 4 o’clock on a Tuesday, while Jimmy Le is out there bettering the community. The real “whiner convention” here is you.
J.A. Here is my generalization since you and I have to face the real world everyday and can't spend too much time on this topic (you have the last word). H.S. has never been a panacea of tripping through the tulips, it can be ugly, stressful, hormonal, silver spoons and poor kids (cliques). Improvements in counseling and counter-bullying are excellent for kids have come a long way, like we didn't have. We settled scores, and did after school in the parking lot. Now days thats basic assault. Whats left these days to try and control the environment?
If AHS is in the ditch preparing our children to either be a laborer or a lawyer because a teacher or administrator said 'you don't have it in you' or 'don't even bother' then we are doomed. The self esteem of these kids the village is raising is too delicate so an equity team had to be institutionalized. My mention about sports teams was a lame reference to competition in general. Competition is what makes this country great. It is how you get promoted at your job, it is how Apple makes great products etc etc. Kids need to learn how to compete even when they know or experience negative aspects. Our community's youth are learning interesting lessons in life these days. Complain, protest, and get your way(shrug).
I'll leave it there, of course, but just wanted to close out by saying I was a teacher and a principal (in other schools) so I come at this with a bit of experience. I hear you on competition, but think it goes further. Anyway, thanks for being civil! Back atcha.