An old newsletter article written by a former student hangs on Alphonse Keasley’s office door. Its title: “Cautious Keasley Kicks Butt.”
“He may look like a pushover, but behind those Bambi eyes is a serious teacher with the ability to ‘kick butt’ if necessary,” the student wrote.
“I don’t mind having that reputation,” said Keasley, Associate Vice Chancellor in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement at the University of Colorado at Boulder. “I’ve always had the philosophy in the classroom that kids are capable and we will find what level they are able to achieve. If they’ve never been given that opportunity to be fully engaged as a fully involved human being, then I think we’ve cheated them.
“Why kids aren’t succeeding in the learning environment, when the kids are capable, just makes me so concerned that we’re still living out what those of us in education call the deficit model – that because a kid has brown skin, they’re not capable,” Keasley said.
Ultimately, closing the achievement gap comes down to relationships, he said. Here’s how Keasley recommends people get involved:
Join the Board of Trustees for a nonprofit organization working to promote educational equity.
Donate to such organizations. Good examples are The Family Learning Center in Boulder, the “I Have A Dream” Foundation of Boulder County and the Hispanic Education Foundation of the St. Vrain Valley.
Offer an internship to a minority student at your place of business.
Authentically involve kids from communities that are not typically present, in everything you do.
by Chris Barge
