For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Oyster River Cooperative School District to Conduct Training on Diversity and Inclusion with Andrew C. Smith

New Hampshire Disproportionate Minority Contact Coordinator working Directly with District

DURHAM — Oyster River Cooperative School District Superintendent James Morse reports that the district is working with Andrew C. Smith, the state’s Disproportionate Minority Contact Coordinator, to conduct employee training on diversity and inclusion for the upcoming school year.

The goal is to have 100 percent of all district faculty, staff, and administrators participate in the valuable sessions conducted by Smith.

Smith has been the New Hampshire State DMC Coordinator since 2011. He has 25 years of experience as an Independent Management Consultant specializing in Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership Development, Change Management and Cultural Transformation. He also works with high level clients including the Department of Homeland Security, Amtrak, and the St. Louis Police Department.

“Andrew Smith brings years of experience and expertise to bear. The state relies on him as a resource on diversity and inclusion, and we are very fortunate to have him in our schools, working directly with our staff,” Superintendent Morse said.

“In times of stress and crisis, Americans have always worked together based on freedom, equality, justice and humanity,” Smith said. “This is one of those times and we will prevail again.”

Two incidents at the start of the school year caused Superintendent Morse to reexamine the district’s approach to multicultural diversity and respect for others. The school district is also planning a multicultural forum and is conducting a review of its curriculum, policies and procedures regarding how members of the community treat each other. The district is also consulting with the NAACP to assist in improving the district’s approach to diversity. The goal of the forum is to improve the district’s approach to diversity.

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