By PAT NEWMAN
pnewman@thecitizennews.com

They are Japanese, Kosovars, Native Americans, African Americans, U.S. natives and Indian Americans.

Students attending Fayette County public schools represent a broad cross-section of countries, cultures and family backgrounds. A recent meeting of the Fayette County NAACP focused on the need for diversity training within the school system. This week, three curriculum directors from the schools' district office will attend a two-day diversity training session in San Pedro, Calif.

The program is called Teacher Expectations for Student Achievement and is designed to equip Cheryl Hilderbrand, Ann Richardson and Kay Seabolt with the training skills to teach ninth grade teachers from the district's four high schools how to effectively help all students achieve academic and personal success.

“Classroom research results show us that TESA interactions improve student academic performance, gender and diversity awareness, attendance and classroom climate, and reduces student discipline problems,” said Terri Gaspierik, staff development coordinator for the Fayette County school district.

According to the summary of TESA'S objectives, participants “learn 15 interactions designed to encourage equitable interaction with all students. The program is based on expectation theory and the early research of Thomas Good and Jere Brophy. TESA is designed to modify the way teachers interact with students through heightened awareness of how perceptions affect their expectations.”

Gaspierik said several more teachers will attend the seminar next year in order to increase the school system's cadre of trainers.