Here’s what happened with that Ruby Bridges movie in Pinellas schools

Interest in what is being taught in classrooms across the country is at an all-time high. As Superintendent of Pinellas County Schools, I encourage engagement from our students, families, staff and community. I welcome the exchange of ideas because I believe in the power of public education and our district to positively impact the lives of students.

Kevin Hendrick [ Pinellas County Schools ]

So much in public dialogue lately seems to be purposefully divisive. I do not believe we have to play a zero-sum game wherein one person has to lose for another person to win. I can confidently say that our community wins when we listen to all voices and work together to accelerate progress for all, not some. To do this, leaders must be able to uphold multiple values at the same time. For me, this means that I believe diverse instructional materials develop students to be well-rounded citizens. I believe curriculum must follow the state standards. I believe instructional materials must be age appropriate. I believe in the professionalism, ability and skill of our teachers and staff. I believe in a parent’s right to advocate for their child. I believe in following the law. All these beliefs must factor into my decision-making. None can be pushed aside in favor of another, and they do not exist in isolation.

Since late January 2023, there has been much discussion in our community about ‘banning,’ and like many exchanges in our nation, it has been divisive. Most recently, it was reported that the district banned the movie “Ruby Bridges.” To be clear, it is not banned in our schools. Teaching about our nation’s civil rights history is fully supported in state curriculum guidelines. However, these guidelines and school district policy allow for parents to file objections to any materials that may be of concern. After seeking and receiving parent permission, the movie “Ruby Bridges” was shown as part of classroom instruction and was objected to by a parent after it had been viewed by students. The movie is undergoing a review as outlined in School Board Policy when a formal objection occurs. The movie remains available through the district’s licensed movie library for use by all schools, provided all procedures for student viewing of movies are followed. I encourage anyone with questions about this to read the FAQs that were recently issued on the district website.

As district staff learn how to best implement new laws, navigate through, and balance the nuances, we have made mistakes in our communication and timing. This was the case at North Shore Elementary School where it was communicated to a parent that the film would no longer be shown. Again, the district corrected this as it was inconsistent with our policy. For this, I take responsibility. What I know to be true is that listening to and learning from multiple points of view are critical to effective leadership but are often absent in many conversations. While I have heard from many who do not agree with these state statutes, it is my obligation to ensure Pinellas County Schools adheres to all relevant laws, while also ensuring that the diverse views of our community are heard and represented.

To that end, the district developed administrative procedures to guide our implementation and review processes. It is important to me that our teachers and administrators have confidence in their ability to know the guidelines so they can select and utilize diverse instructional materials and not censor their curriculum out of fear or misinformation. The new legislative protections and options for parents are factored into these procedures.

Pinellas County Schools is an excellent district, with remarkable teachers and administrators dedicated to student success. We need the support of our families and greater community so we can remain focused on our core mission, teaching and learning. It is my sincere hope that we can do this together, without contentious rhetoric, but rather with the intent and grace to find common ground from which we build our next generation.