Special workshop at Gastonia school addresses implicit bias, student concerns

GASTONIA, N.C. — Students at Hunter Huss High School in Gastonia spoke openly Wednesday about how they feel about their school and how people perceive them.

"The stigma they got on Huss is completely wrong." senior Malek Wright said, adding people think the school has "a lot of gang violence… and, oh, some people bring weed, marijuana, when there are other schools that are way worse (than) us that don’t get that look."

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Jennifer Davis, with JP Davis & RJ Stevenson Consultants and Associates LLC, was asked by the administration to come in and speak with the students.

"The image that some people have of Huss is just totally wrong, and this was an opportunity to offset some of that and allow the kids to be the catalyst," said Davis.

Davis is a consultant, and expert in implicit bias and culture competency. She typically holds workshops for adults, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers.

She was brought in to work with students from all backgrounds, socioeconomic status and grade levels.

She asked the students to write and share their concerns about the school. A common thread: Students wanted stronger relationships with their teachers.

Amy Hernandez said, "I want teachers to understand that not all students are the same."

Dontavius Nash said, "I just want teachers to know athletes aren't doing whatever just to get by."

"Some teachers use their title against students. Like a student can be like simple tone like I don't understand this, and they think they you got an attitude and they sent you out of class," said Ronnaisa Patterson.

The goal was to gather their ideas and put them into action.

The district's superintendent said he knows of one example of students using their voice that has brought change.

He said students worked with him to bring a second chance lunch program. It gives students access to food after breakfast was served. The pilot program started this year, and there are plans to expand.

The school's principal, Bryan Denton, said he's proud of the students' accomplishments and hopes the workshop showed students how to voice concerns constructively.

"We want to talk about what is within our control and what's not within our control," said Denton.

Davis said they want to do a similar activity with staff at the school before coming up with a plan they could bring to the school board or other local leaders.

Cox Media Group