A Minnesota school district is looking to hire an assistant superintendent that is equipped to “actively” identify “racial concerns” and investigate the “role of Whiteness” in the community.
A job posting from the St. Louis Park Public School District specifies that this position would include the responsibility to “oversee the district-wide efforts related to student management/discipline.” Additionally, the position involves engagement with “legislation and rulemaking at state and federal level[s]” as well as ensuring that “the District has representation regarding the impact of proposed laws and rules” related to education.
.@SLPublicSchools posted a job listing for an Assistant Superintendent. To get the job you are required to be "anti-racist" and examine "whiteness" to determine "racial blind spots."
Why are they so obsessed with creating racial conflict in schools?
Credit: @CBHeresy pic.twitter.com/qyUzxGmDj0
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 27, 2024
The right candidate is also required to accept “feedback” related to his or her so-called “racial blind spots” and pursue “multiple racial perspectives.” Promoting joy and accountability as it relates to “racial equity transformation” is also listed as a job duty, according to reports.
The district also specified that applicants should be prepared to “proactively” work alongside the superintendent to “communicate anti-racist structures and systems” as well as “interrupt systems of oppression” and be a “role model” for racial equity. Reports of the job posting with its controversial candidate requirements and responsibilities came about shortly after the district filled a previously open position for superintendent.
On March 18, the district announced that it had hired Dr. Carla Hines as the new superintendent. The school board’s chair, Colin Cox, said in a press release that Hines was chosen to fill the role due to her experience in leadership within the field of education as well as her “vision for racial equity transformation.” He expressed confidence that the recent hire would be effective in “advancing our strategic plan.”
The district posted a video of Hines’ Feb. 28 interview for the position on YouTube, in which she addressed the goal of promoting “racial equity,” a project that she is presumed to accomplish with whomever fills the position of assistant superintendent.
When asked about this initiative, Hines commended the district’s “fabric” of “racial equity” that is already in place and said that she would work to “elevate that into achievable academic outcomes.” She added that these efforts would be geared towards “shift[ing] the narrative” related to teachers becoming “racial equity educator[s]” and promoting improved academic success “not just for our Black and Brown kids but for all students.”