This newsletter from Anne Arundel County Public Schools discusses diversity and inclusion. It highlights Black History Month in February, Women's History Month in March, and Autism Awareness Month in April. It also profiles a former student, Keion Dorsey, who now works as a technology support technician and connects well with students. The newsletter promotes embracing diversity in the workplace and provides a tip on cultural proficiency.

1. Anne Arundel County Public Schools | Human Resources
Volume 3, Issue 2
Workforce Diversity Newsletter
February 2016
Diversity
Holidays
February 1–29
Black History Month
An observance of the history
of the African Diaspora in a
number of countries outside
of Africa. Since 1976, it is
observed annually in the
United States and Canada in
February, while in the United
Kingdom it is observed in
October. In the U.S., Black
History Month is also referred
to as African-American History
Month. Black History Month
was begun as Negro History
Week by historian Carter G.
Woodson in 1926.
March 1–31
Women’s History Month
In 1987, the National Women’s
History Project petitioned
Congress to expand the
(Women’s History Week)
celebration to the entire month
of March. Since then, the
National Women’s History
Month Resolution has been
approved every year with
bipartisan support in both the
House and Senate.
April 1–30
Autism Awareness Month
In order to highlight the
growing need for concern
and awareness about autism,
the Autism Society has been
celebrating National Autism
Awareness Month since the
1970s. The United States
recognizes April as a special
opportunity for everyone
to educate the public about
autism and issues within the
autism community.
Employee
Spotlight
From AACPS Student to Employee
Keion Dorsey demonstrates passion for school system and students
By Melvin Edwards
Keion Dorsey graduated
from Meade High School
five years ago and could
probably still pass for a high
school student on most days.
He’s youthful and bright
eyed, and that gives him a
connection to the students
he sees on a daily basis.
On a recent day at Hillsmere Elementary
School, a student in the hallway couldn’t wait
to tell Dorsey about a computer program he
had just discovered. He knew that Dorsey
would probably be familiar with it since he’s
the school’s technology support technician
and helps them with the electronic tablets and
laptop computers in class.
Dorsey looks for ways to connect with students
at whatever school he happens to be stationed
at that time. When he was younger and at-
tending school in a different school system,
he felt unchallenged and unmotivated. So, in
response, he became fidgety and started getting
into trouble. It wasn’t until he entered high
school after his parents had moved near the
Army base at Fort Meade that he began to see
his own potential.
“I got into trouble all the time (in middle
school),” he remembered. “But once I got to
Meade, I was moved into honors classes and
I had never done that before.”
Dorsey says the tough love and motivation of
his former assistant principal, Jacqueline Jones,
pushed him beyond what he thought he was
capable.
“I’m touched that Keion mentioned me and
that I made a lasting impression on him,” said
Jones, who is now an assistant principal at
Northeast High School. “He was a wonderful
student and I quite enjoyed our time together
at Meade. He’s accomplished quite a lot in a
short time.”
More than just motivating him to do his best
academically, Dorsey copies what he learned
from his interactions with Jones in the way he
responses to students around him daily.
“She would tell me she was proud of what I
had accomplished and she just really cared
about me,” Dorsey recalls. “I try to do that
when I’m with the students at (at Hillsmere
and Germantown elementary schools).”
When informed of the impact she had on one
of her former students, Jones couldn’t stop
smiling.
“It’s great to know that he is sowing the seeds
of inspiration and motivation in a new genera-
tion of students. As an educator, you don’t al-
ways know what impact you have on students.
I think teachers have more direct contact and
opportunities to mold students and helped
them to reach goals. I’m in disbelief that as
an administrator, he would say that I helped
shape how he deals with students.”
Though he’s only 22 years old, the students are
beginning to view Dorsey as a role model and
he likes it that way, especially the male stu-
dents who don’t have a father figure at home.
“Being in the school system is where my heart
is,” he said. “At the end of the day, I feel like
I made a difference. I feel appreciated by the
students and teachers.”

2. Workforce Diversity Newsletter cont.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools seeks to foster a working environment
where diversity is embraced. The following newsletter highlights some of our
efforts to ensure a diverse and inclusive working environment.
If you have suggestions for items that should be included in this newsletter
please contact the Office of Workforce Diversity at 410-222-5085.
Cultural Proficiency Tip
Cultures are always changing, especially as they interact with
each other. Even from within, cultures move and flow and
change through time, even when they think they don’t. But
the pace of change is accelerated when cultures that reinforce
different styles of communication, and which accent differ-
ent binding customs and values, interact with each other. The
result is often disorienting (to say the least), but the result is
inevitably that both cultures change in the process. Individuals
who begin to bridge these gaps are like pioneers, blazing paths
and creating plausible options for hybrid identities for others to
copy and test in the future.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools prohibits discrimination in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs on the basis of actual
or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or disability.
For more information, contact:
Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Division of Human Resources
2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401; 410-222-5286 TDD 410-222-5000
www.aacps.org