FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUBJECT: The Montgomery County Public Schools First
Diversity Forum Meeting Will Be Held On Tuesday, October 11, at 7:00 p.m. at
the Christiansburg Middle School Auditorium
The Diversity Forum theme on Tuesday is Student Voices. The diversity forum, which began in 1998 in collaboration with the NAACP, is a group that meets monthly to discuss and address issues of diversity in the county. Superintendent Tiffany Anderson has partnered with two district administrators, Rick Weaver and Guylene Wood-Setzer, to lead the initiative as co-chair. Dr. Anderson feels it’s important for the superintendent to lead such issues that are aligned with district goals. The Diversity Forum is being reenergized and it takes a new direction. Each month, in addition to a focused topic from which to address issues, a cultural dish will be served. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Hispanic appetizers will be served. While diversity forum meetings are normally held at the central office, the first meeting is being held at Christiansburg Middle School and several students from the high schools are participating in a panel discussion. The moderators for the discussion are Mrs. Wood-Setzer, a technology resource teacher for the district, and Dr. Wat Hopkins, a School Board member and communications professor at Virginia Tech. According to Dr. Anderson, “The goal this year is to allow the voices of students to create the foundation for the year.” Questions sent in previously will be asked and some questions will be solicited from the audience as students share their thoughts about issues surrounding diversity.