Calvin Watts recognizes inequities in the public school system and racial problems in society.
And he wants to profoundly reach out and make his community better with the genuine support of others.
The new Kent School District superintendent addressed difficult issues in his profession – and the recent shooting deaths at a South Carolina church – as a guest speaker at the Kent Black Action Commission’s fourth annual Juneteenth celebration last Saturday.
“As we shed tears and lift up those in Charleston (S.C.), let us also cry out for the indomitable spirit of not just African-Americans, but for the rights, the lives and the liberty and the pursuits for all Americans,” Watts told the crowd at a sun-splashed Morrill Meadows Park. “Let us recommit to righting the wrongs of the past and lighting the way to bright futures of every child.”
For Watts, it’s good to be home – and have the chance to be seen and heard.
Such an opportunity came at the Juneteenth celebration.
The event commemorates the day, June 19, 1865, when Americans of African descent learned of their freedom, in Texas. The signing on Sept. 22, 1862 of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached Galveston, Texas, over 2½ years later on June 19, 1865.
Each year, on or about June 19, celebrations take place throughout the country – including Kent – to remember and pay homage to the historic day.
Watts understands the significance of the day.
“As we celebrate Juneteenth … (it was) 150 years ago when (enslaved) men and women heard a message of freedom and fairness, and it made a difference in their own lives and their lives then made a difference in their communities … and in our country,” Watts told the crowd. “So be it Galveston, Texas, or Charleston, S.C., be it Kent or Renton or Covington … today is a day to celebrate our freedom and to commit to a peaceful, civil, fair, free and prosperous tomorrow for every single student and family served by the Kent School District.
“I, for one, am committed to that. Won’t you be please join me?”
Watts served in various roles in public education in Georgia for 21 years before getting the call in May to succeed Edward Lee Vargas as Kent schools superintendent. A Seattle-area native, Watts has wasted little time in getting to know the school district and its many educators, leaders and followers. He has visited 40 of 42 district schools in his short amount of time on the job.
Watts acknowledged progress has been made in closing achievement gaps for the school district’s increasingly diverse student body.
Still, much more work needs to be done, he said.
“My heart is lifted to see trends of improving graduation rates and academic improvement across the district in most categories,” Watts sad. “Don’t get me wrong, I am glad to see the improvement, however, I am still disappointed. Some groups, such as African-American and our Hispanic, Latino students, are not achieving at the same rates as others.
“I appreciate the work given in the past and I applaud the many, talented people who I have had the opportunity to meet and speak with and look forward to working alongside those who are tireless in their efforts and commitment to every child,” Watts said. “But we cannot sit and rest on our laurels. … Being much better is not the same as being good enough. For that reason, we must continuously improve.”
Watts also is concerned about the disciplinary trends in today’s classrooms. Black students, especially boys, face much harsher discipline in public schools than other students, according to new data from the Department of Education.
“Statistically, the way we are monitoring, leading and managing and sanctioning our students of color is different in the way we work with other groups. And the first question is why?” Watts said. “We will continue to ask those questions until we get to the root cause. And once we get to the root cause, we are closer and more able to make those necessary changes and improvements.
“We are going to address inequities,” Watts continued. “We must recognize there are some students and some entire groups of students who need more help, more flexible responses, more resources, more prevention, more intervention, more of our time, more of our hearts, if they are able to be successful.”
Watts has pledged to make himself and the district accountable for the failures and successes of Kent’s public schools. He accepts the daunting challenge of making schools safer and more productive.
“This work is not going to be easy,” he said, “however, it’s not impossible.”
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