Warwick Valley School Administration Seeks to Improve ‘Equity’ in District

During the Warwick Valley School Board meeting that was livestreamed via YouTube conference call on March 4, Schools District Superintendent Dr. David Leach introduced Dr. Gess LeBlanc, a psychologist and professor at Hunter College who has been tapped to help address issues of inclusivity and educational equity and the school climate in the district.

The professor works with school districts throughout the area, including: Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery and Valley Central in Orange County; Highlands in Ulster County; Lakeland in Westchester County; as well as New York City schools.

LeBlanc acknowledged that children and their families are dealing with stress, particularly as a result of the pandemic. He said that all children need to feel a connection to the district, as well as a sense of support. Some kids, he added, are dealing with “trauma.”

All students and families should “feel a sense of connectedness, support, belonging” to the district…