Tricia McManus, Manager of Leadership Training with the School District of Hillsborough County (SDHC), shared information on trainings offered to administrators and teachers. Mrs. McManus has been a principal (Just Elem and Twin Lakes Elem), and an assistant principal (Phillip Shore Elem and Dunbar Elem). She has also been an Administrative Resource Teacher at Lake Magdalene Elem, and was a classroom teacher at both Lake Magdalene Elem and at Forest Hills Elem.
Q:  Describe some trainings that SDHC offers in the area of multicultural education.
A:  "The school district offers several trainings in the area of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), of course; how to teach students who speak other languages. There are diversity trainings in the Preparing New Teachers programs because new teachers must pass an assessment on diversity. Also, diversity is a leadership standard for principals, so it has to be incorporated into trainings.  We also offer high expectations trainings, differentiated instruction, and strategies for meeting the needs of all students. We've done trainings based on "Do You Know Enough to Teach Me?" by Stephen Peters, and trainings by Glenn Singleton. We used to offer Ruby Payne trainings, but it was considered too controversial. They dealt with poverty, and some people felt that some categorizing was occurring."
Q:  You have been involved in education in Hillsborough County at many different levels, how do you feel that the district has changed in its approach to multicultural education?
A:  "We didn't even have ESOL when I started teaching. The populations of the schools have changed, so schools are changing, too. Schools are actually calling to request these trainings for teachers and staff to help change attitudes. I feel that this (multicultural education) is an area in which we need to develop even further."