First, Do No Harm - Defining US

By Dr. Timothy Gadson, Superintendent of Salt Lake City Schools

We live in a world that, in many ways, feels more divided by the day. News that feeds the divide can quickly overwhelm any of us. But let me state this with as much determination as I can muster:

Our schools are not teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT).

Quite frankly, as a new superintendent and as the proud first Black Superintendent in the state of Utah, I don’t have the time for distractions. No superintendent does, new or veteran. The call to get CRT out of our schools is a distraction. District leaders carry enormous responsibility on behalf of the students and families we serve, and the “noise” around CRT and other politicized topics can keep us from focusing on what we are hired to do. It is up to us to avoid the trap of fighting against movements based upon blatant untruths that will force us to take our eyes off the prize and prevent us from providing all our students with a world-class educational experience. We must allow every student to be their best authentic selves both in the short and long term. Keeping students as my focus and my purpose helps me tune out the many distractions.

Seeing the Beauty in Every Student

I’ve always believed that if you work with students, your work must always be centered around acceptance. The beauty in our students’ differences should propel each of us to accept them wholly for who they are and not see them as a threat because they speak differently or look differently or have a different background. That is the splendor of my new school district, and that is the magnificence of our country. These differences make us who we are in America, and they have helped fortify our nation over time and make it into one of the strongest in the world, if not the strongest.

It concerns me that differences in any form threaten some people. But personally, I focus on what is in front of me. First, I always tell staff and students it starts with kindness. A simple word, perhaps, but it should be our starting point. Then I ask teachers and leaders to focus on the things that are in their sphere of influence. We have our students for such a short while, so we must go all-in on the support they need. I stress that no matter the issues children may bring to our classrooms, we must value them all and be sure they know they are in a loving environment and that we will work very hard to help them make their lives better.

Of course, I’m not naïve. It’s challenging to help students make their lives better with the many external factors they have to overcome. However, I know that if we stay focused on providing learning experiences that help each student figure out how to make their own life better and help them understand that they don’t have to change who they are, but instead, embrace their selves, they can build on their strengths and overcome their challenges. If we can do this, we have gone a long way in serving our students fully.

Education is Evolutionary

I know that others will see my approach to the work as threatening and a change in the way educators have always done business. But education has to change. It is supposed to be evolutionary and always centered on the students we serve. When we are not evolving, we are not responsive to who students are today, and I believe, causing them more harm than good.

I do believe I took an oath, much like the Hippocratic Oath in the medical field. First, do no harm. I believe every educator holds this responsibility. We must leave children and families better than when we first made contact. If we can do that, we are on the right path for every child we serve.