Talks About Race: Local teachers take part in Text Equity class looking at books chosen for classes

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Books are everything for two Kannapolis teachers. They say they know first-hand how powerful a connection to a book and its characters can be, but they had no idea that some of their students, especially non-white students, weren’t feeling much of a connection at all.

Leslie Fitzpatrick now teaches English language arts in the 8th grade, and Megan Deal is a media coordinator with Kannapolis City Schools.

“It really opened my eyes to a lot more than I thought it was,” Fitzpatrick said.

>> In the video at the top of the page, Channel 9′s Susanna Black learns these two teachers are taking part in a continuing education class called Text Equity, and what it means for books that are chosen for classes.

(Watch Below: Talking About Race: The history of race in Charlotte’s Schools)

Talking About Race: The history of race in Charlotte’s Schools

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