On Thursday, around 150 members of the community participated in Talking Across the Lines at Alice Deal Middle School. This was, for us, a new endeavor and the results were exciting and challenging. The evening's host was Michel Martin of NPR fame (and a Deal parent!); there were noted panelists (Diana Cardona (CNN), Roland Martin, and Andy Shallal (Busboys and Poets)) and the evening was kicked off by our own Chancellor, Kaya Henderson! I would be remiss if I didn't note that Deal's Dance Team and singer Isabella Amaruso got the crowd into the emotional spirit of the evening.

The heart of the evening was giving ourselves the chance to cut into the issue of race, culture, and education - in America, in DC, and at Deal. The night was raw - putting the questions of ethnicity, fairness, injustice and more right on the stage for all to see. There was a lot of truth in what was said, and yet there was a lot left unsaid. Deal - as a school and a school community - has yet to address many deep-seated issues that arise out of the divide that marks the city. I am unable to capture the conversation because it was too intense to take notes. The reality of the night for me, as the principal of a wonderful middle school in an amazing city, is that for all the good that is here there is still a lot of ugly. As principal, I know that our school has a long way to go. This journey will require many of us - and I include myself clearly in this group - to look at our privilege, what it means to be black, Asian, Hispanic, indigenous at a majority white Alice Deal Middle School.

After the panel, there was a spirited parent/teacher/student activity in the cafeteria that had participants looking at the lines between racism, stereotyping, assumptions, and lived experience - and asked us to cross some of those lines. For those of us who were there (and there were a lot!) it was a great opportunity to push our understandings and to look at what each of these meant to us. As Goldie Patrick, our energetic facilitator said, "the answer is in the journey" of the conversations. 

Out of the evening, all were asked to share next steps that they would like to see at Deal - for students, for staff, and for parents. Universally, the demand was for "more" - more evenings like this, more commitment on the part of the leadership, more reflection on what it means to be a student of color at Deal, more understanding and shared knowledge on the "lived experience" of so many. So often the questions are not asked and the answers, when given, are not heard - but for one night there was a chance to ask and listen.

As the principal of our school, I thank the community for showing the willingness to "talk across the lines" - by showing up, by engaging, and by demanding more. I also realize that the values of the leaders in the building set the tone and direction for so much. I appreciate the start of this discussion, as a way to hold me accountable for what needs to happen at our school. My goal has been to help make a good Deal a great Deal. This conversation, about the lines that divide us, is central to our moving towards that goal.

Special thanks for the evening to the team that put this together: Michel Martin, Goldie Patrick, teachers Derrick Spencer and Danna Hailfinger, and counselor Robin Howard. The group was brought together by the great organizer, Diedre Neal, Assistant Principal for the 6th grade. For this, we are grateful.

James Albright