Pain, Power and Joy of Young Men of Color
Episode 16
Dr. Patrick Jean-Pierre is the Principal of Paige Elementary in the Schenectady City School District. Dr. Jean-Pierre has years of combined experience in urban educational settings, which includes public schools, charter schools and universities. His range of professional experiences in the field of education includes teaching, counseling and leadership development, as well as organizational consulting that fosters systemic change. Patrick served as the former Assistant District Director of Diversity, Recruitment and Retention at the Schenectady City School District and additionally has held positions as Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the University at Albany and Director of New York State Technical Assistance Center on Disproportionality at Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools at New York University. Patrick taught at the Andries Hudde in Brooklyn, NY and while at Rutgers University, he served as a Senior Consultant to the NJ Department of Education and developed programs for students from vulnerable populations for the Rutgers Somerset project. This week, Patrick talks to host, Stacey DeWitt, about how we can foster systemic change on a new level. With a plethora of experience and the knowledge to inspire change, Patrick breaks down the importance of looking at everything you do with diversity, equity, and inclusion in mind.
Powerful Moments
Throughout this podcast there are powerful moments that provide deeper insight into the individuals and topics discussed in this podcast.
- 1:18 – Patrick’s background and how he came into the position he is in now
- 3:27 – “I didn’t want to go work anywhere that wouldn’t talk about race.”
- 4:25 – Noticing disparities in his neighborhood at a young age
- 5:48 – The importance of looking at diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything you do
- 10:06 – Ignoring an entire population of people and setting the wrong expectations
- 13:00 – Making changes is the only way to allow everyone to live to their full potential
- 14:32 – Shifting your mindset
- 23:06 – The importance of being a black principal
- 24:19 – Patrick’s reactions to Defining Us
- 27:55 – “It’s really about a kind of inclusion and diversity that is broad and wide.”
- 31:15 – “Innovation is really about diversity
Critical Reflection Questions (During and After the Listening)
Use the following critical reflection questions to make deeper meaning of the topics discussed in
this episode.
- How do my own identity, experiences and knowledge influence my understanding of this topic?
- How does this topic connect with my current context?
- What are the implications to my practice?
- Am I using a relationship-based approach in my interactions with students?
- How will I continue the conversation in my school/community/organization?
Inside the Conversation
Want to know more? Continue the learning with some of the important individuals, organizations, and topics discussed in this episode.
- Dr. Patrick Jean-Pierre on Defining Us