FACULTY ACADEMICS
FAC U LT Y B O O K C LU B
Reflections By Hayley Brantley
Middle School History Teacher & Service Learning Coordinator
O
ne of the things I tell my students often in my U.S. History classes is that I’m always hoping to learn more, from them and with them. This summer, as I watched our country grapple with issues of race, systemic racism, and who we’ve been, who we are, and who we are becoming as a nation related to race issues, I found myself returning to this want—and need—to learn more. As I read articles, looked at social media posts, and listened to the words of activists, it was clear to me how little I knew and how much I needed to learn in order to be a better person, mother, and teacher. I also knew that learning and accountability happen best in a community. So I sought out my community at Ensworth, beginning with my friends and colleagues in the Middle School history department. Ruby Cortner and Maurice Hopkins (a long with new members, but longtime friends, Dean Schneider and Tim Wallace) have embraced and invited a culture in our department of questioning, growth, and learning. As we shared our thoughts and feelings about the events in our country this summer, I asked them if they thought a book club for our larger faculty on the topics of race, racism, and antiracism might be helpful for all of us as we live out our Mission as a school to seek truth, embrace curiosity, and strive to be communitybuilding. With their encouragement, Maurice’s generous offer to co-facilitate with me, and David Braemer’s wholehearted endorsement of the project, we set out to grow and learn together. Over 60 members of the faculty and staff have joined
us to learn more about the topics of racism, antiracism, and our role as educators and learners. At the core of all of this is how we as faculty and staff can better serve all of our students. With that in mind, we chose three books that we felt might help us in that mission. The first was New Kid, a graphic novel by Jerry Craft that recently won both the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King author award. Written with middle-grade readers in mind, it tells the story of Jordan Banks, a black seventh-grade boy who is the new kid at an elite private school. Our second book was Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America by Jennifer Harvey. Our final book of the summer was Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi.
“We’re all being called to listen, learn, and reflect right now, and I’m so thankful for the community at Ensworth that has answered that call through this book club.”
46 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
Our conversations in these weekly meetings were r ich, t houg htprovoking, and vulnerable. What they show me most is that the faculty and staff at Ensworth care about learning, growth, and, most of all, our students. We’re all being called to listen, learn, and reflect right now, and I’m so thankful for the community at Ensworth that has answered that call through this book club. I’m also incredibly thankful for the work of Maurice Hopkins. His honesty, generosity of time and spirit, and his vulnerability make me better, and I’m proud and honored to work alongside him in the history department and in crafting this book club.
