Concerns that several race-based training programs offered to Fresno Unified employees might violate anti-discrimination laws are being raised by former School Board candidate Emma Villa, an education consultant and advocate.

Villa is questioning whether programs for “white-identifying” employees and for “men of color” should be open to all employees regardless of race.

She said she’s speaking out after the concerns were brought to her attention by “individual(s) disenfranchised by FUSD’s racially disparate leadership development practices” who want to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation by the district.

District spokeswoman Diana Diaz said the district is not in violation of anti-discrimination laws by offering the training programs.

Villa said two programs approved by the School Board in April limits participation to people of specific races, in violation of state and federal laws and Supreme Court decisions.

The “West-Ed Training for White-Identifying Educators” has a worthy goal of preparing educators to be more culturally responsive when it comes to racial equality but is exclusionary because it is race-based, she said.

Likewise, the “Men of Color in Educational Leadership Program” to provide coaching and mentorship to develop school leaders of color provides unequal access to training opportunities and gives the perception of favoritism, Villa said.

“Participation based on race or ethnicity alone is against Proposition 209, Federal law, Supreme Court decisions, and Title VI,” she said in an email.

Developing District Leaders

Developing more educational leaders of color has been a priority for the School Board for some time.

Diaz, the district spokeswoman, said that “The Men of Color in Educational Leadership” is a professional network and advocacy group aimed at promoting the success of men of color in leadership roles, but the program’s services span across all races, ethnicities and genders.

Through its partnership with the Wallace Foundation the district teamed up with MCEL in 2020 to provide leaders of color with professional development, mentorship and networking opportunities to meet their needs, she said.

Diaz did not respond to a query as to whether the West Ed training was discriminatory since it is training for white-identifying educators.

The district is not concerned about a perception of unequal treatment in the training programs because their services are available to all, she said.

Contract on Wednesday’s Agenda

The third training that Villa is highlighting is the “Anti-Bias and Mitigation Training.”

The board is scheduled to approve a contract at Wednesday night’s meeting for the training, which is intended to enhance leaders’ ability to identify biases during the interview process. While that training does appear to be open to all, Villa said, “Without seeing the content one cannot know if it is anti-biased.”

She said she’s raising the issues to try to generate a public discussion.

“My experience with the district is that it dismisses, doesn’t self-correct or find itself in error unless it comes externally,” adding that she’s “considering options” but did not elaborate.

Villa ran an unsuccessful campaign to oust incumbent Andy Levine from the Fresno High trustee region seat on the School Board in the November election.