Arizona's School Diversity Director Discusses Sees Teachable Moment In Racist Incident

By Lauren Gilger, Katie Campbell
Published: Tuesday, November 5, 2019 - 1:05pm
Updated: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 - 9:23am

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erica maxwell
Katie Campbell/KJZZ
Erica Maxwell

Erica Maxwell is the state’s first ever associate superintendent of equity, diversity and inclusion, a position created by Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman.

Maxwell is a veteran educator of more than two decades and has herself tried to build more inclusive programs in the communities she has worked in.

But how exactly can someone approach inclusivity in schools across Arizona, a state that has so many different communities, each with their own unique challenges? What does that look like? 

The Show spoke with her about these challenges, and the timing was appropriate. Just a week before, a girls’ volleyball game came to a halt as the crowd taunted the Salt River High School team with racist words and gestures.

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