“Educators have a tremendous responsibility not only to know what the academic needs of their students are, but also to know what the social climate is in their school, because they are not

unrelated.” Beverly Daniel Tatum, President,

Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia

The Principal’s Multicultural Advisory Committee (PMAC)

PMAC School Board MandateStudents have the right to attend a school where all ethnic and cultural

heritages are welcomed and respected. To ensure this environment, each school

will create a Principal’s Multicultural Advisory Committee.

What is the Principal’s Multicultural Advisory

Committee program and why is it mandated by the

school board?

PMAC History…In August of 1990, PCS implemented a Biracial and Multicultural Awareness Program in all middle and high schools to promote positive human relations in schools.

In 1991, PCS and the PMAC program began its partnership with Community Tampa Bay, formerly the National Conference for Community and Justice.

The centerpiece of the program was the formation of secondary school-based Bi-racial Advisory Committees which soon became multicultural committees to be more inclusive.

Skyview Elementary PMAC Leadership Team

09-10

By August of 2004, the PCS school board mandated that every school site would have an active PMAC

program in response to the results of a student inclusion survey .

In November 2007, the PMAC program received the Rose Duhon-Sells Multicultural Program of the Year award from NAME. the National Association of Multicultural Education. The award is given to an educational organization whose program exemplifies NAME goals.

In 2011, the Teaching and Learning division directed department members responsible for the PMAC program, Character Education, Community Tampa Bay and Bullying Prevention to work collaboratively to better deliver services.

Currently, PMAC, Character Education, and the Community Tampa Bay Partnership resources and services are being delivered collaboratively by the social studies department, the PMAC Leadership Team, The Character Education Leadership Team, CTB staff, PMAC Liaisons and students, and school-based initiative leaders.

Overarching PMAC

Program Goalto create a school climate where all members are welcomed, supported,

and feel safe in school

socially,

emotionally,

intellectually, and

physically.

What is PMAC’s role? As a mandated program, PMAC encourages student engagement by providing a formal structure •to identify and address school, community and international concerns•to build relationships based on increased cultural understanding•to develop social and leadership skills.

PMAC Membership Guidelines:

Both at the secondary and elementary levels, the committee should

be balanced by gender and grade level, and represent a cross-

section of the racial, religious, ethnic, and

cultural backgrounds of the students at the

school.

A) Act as an advisory group to the principal

B) Engage in a facilitative dialogue about diversity centered concerns, and make recommendations to the principal

Responsibilities of the Principal’s Multicultural Advisory Committee

(secondary level)

C) Promote multicultural activities and programs school-wide

D) Learn and implement conflict resolution and mediation skills

E) Provide service to school and community

F) Improve school climate

Members of elementary school  multicultural

committees will learn about different cultures, participate in multicultural activities and

programs, like end of the year PMAC celebrations and

initiate, at least, one school-wide multicultural activity per

year. http://newsroom.pcsb.org/nina-harris-brings-the-world-to-students-during-multicultural-fair/

What are the Guiding Principles for the PMAC program?

To make multicultural activities, inclusion and an appreciation of diversity the norm from the beginning of children’s school experience.

To integrate multicultural activities fully into the school curriculum, rather than restricting them to one shot or culture of the month sessions.

http://newsroom.pcsb.org/eisenhower-elementary-students-learn-about-native-american-culture/

To involve all students in multicultural activities, not just students from specific cultural groups or programs.

To provide the training and materials needed to deliver high-quality multicultural education activities;

To communicate respect for cultural plurality by recognizing and responding positively to differences in cultures and learning styles.

To encourage and value administrative, school-based, and community support of the PMAC program and its goals.

To achieve LEVEL IV in Multicultural Education:

The Social Action Approach:

Students and teachers make decisions on

important social issues and take action to address them. (Students and

teachers engage in the decision making process in

their schools and communities in meaningful

ways)

PMAC http://www.pcsb.org/Domain/5058

E-learning CenterUnder Offices and departments/social studies/Principal’s Multicultural Advisory committee

OUTLOOK/all public folders/PMAC

Community Tampa Bay 568-9333http://www.communitytampabay.org/

Where you will find us….

PMAC Leadership Team Evie Cole, Cindy Flora, Kerry

Giordano, Sandra Hartnett, Melissa Porter, Marcia

Reybitz, Erica Sutherlin and Andrea Wilkins