NAACP criticizes hiring choices at Albemarle schools

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- The Albemarle County school system has too few black educators and administrators, and it is failing to make adequate progress toward remedying the problem, the president of the local NAACP said.

"This is ridiculous," M. Rick Turner said Friday of what he sees as a poor effort to recruit black teachers and administrators. "The mind-set is akin to Massive Resistance."

Turner, president of the Albemarle-Charlottesville branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, demanded better oversight of the school system's hiring process at a School Board meeting Thursday. He criticized the system's recent decision to fill three positions for school principals with white candidates, leaving the system with only one black principal in its 25 schools.

"A serious search would have clearly brought forth some of the top black educators in the country," Turner said.

However, schools communications coordinator Maury Brown said black candidates were among those recruited and interviewed, but those hired were the most qualified.

Brown said the school system actively recruits black candidates by working with historically black colleges and minority advocacy groups, among other strategies. She said the school system is aiming to increase the number of minority teachers to more closely mirror the percentage of minority students, but as in many localities, the county has fallen short.

Only 6 percent of the county's teachers are black, compared with 14 percent of students, she said.

"It's not an Albemarle County problem. It's a state problem. It's a national problem," Brown said. "There are so few, and you work hard to drive them to your community, but it's a small pool and it's a diminishing pool."

Turner said although the school system recognizes the importance of a diverse staff in its Comprehensive Plan, its actions don't match up, which is a disservice to students.

"You have to see things to believe you can be that," Turner said. "If black children don't see [black] firemen and police officers, they will never believe they can become that one day. If they don't see black principals in the administration and black teachers, they won't believe that they can become teachers or administrators."

Luvelle Brown, the chief information officer for the school system, agrees that it's important to have strong minority representation. He said the school system should continue to recruit minority educators, as opposed to hiring without regard for race.

"There is some merit and research that says minority leaders and teachers are able to develop relationships and provide relevant experiences for students who are minorities," said Brown, a former principal of Woodbrook Elementary School.

He added that being a black educator has allowed him to make connections with black communities and build relationships with minority students in a way that wouldn't have been possible if he were of a different race.

However, he said that he has a tough time buying that the school system "isn't actively recruiting and supporting" minorities, based largely on his experiences as an educator. He added that there are few black educators, yet they're in high demand.

"I know the numerous offers I received prior to coming here and the numerous inquires I receive now because I'm an African-American male [educational] leader," he said, adding that he imagines other qualified candidates have similar experiences.

Brandon Shulleeta is a staff writer for The Daily Progress in Charlottesville.