Students will: 
Deepen interest in stories and reading
Build greater skill and confidence with reading
Sharpen critical reading/thinking ability
Grow in ability to share ideas within a group 
Explore marginalized groups and their struggles

In my twenty years of teaching middle school, I have worked extensively in the area of diversity. One of the core philosophies of my school centers around examining and lifting marginalized groups. To this end, our faculty has engaged in workshops and seminars with authors and activists in the field, including Peggy McIntosh, Bryan Stevenson, Matt Faulkner and Donna Gephart. Among students and faculty, we hold an annual Diversity Day, during which we study and celebrate differences in areas such as sexuality, gender, class, race, and ability. Personally, a colleague and I facilitate a girls' group which meets weekly to discuss issues surrounding gender stereotypes, finding our voice, and establishing healthy boundaries and friendships. I have immersed myself in the study of diversity through my English curriculum as well, teaching many works of literature that deal with oppression and disenfranchisement. Through these experiences, I have built comfort with and experience in examining these complicated issues with young people.