Hadassah's Crown Publishing Welcomes Dr. Tawio Barksdale, Equity and Inclusion Division

Hadassah’s Crown Publishing, LLC, whose primary genres have included Christian, educational and children’s books, is delighted to announce a new umbrella of books dedicated to equity and inclusion. Why is this move so critical?

First, let’s explore the two terms. Equity seeks to ensure fair treatment, equality of opportunity, and fairness in access to information and resources for all. This is only possible in an environment built on respect and dignity. Inclusion, on the other hand, builds a culture of belonging by engaging contributions and participation of all groups of people.

In celebration of its newest division, Hadassah’s Crown Publishing is pleased to announce the release of First Things First, Putting Students Before Standards: A Practical Guide for Building Positive and Engaged Learning Communities by Dr. Tawio Barksdale. This publication explores reasons many students underperform in our schools and the lack of enthused diversity pertaining to stakeholder and community involvement. Ultimately, student underperformance and deficiencies are usually attributed to one central theme – a heightened need to teach standards better so that high test scores can be achieved. Following traditional protocols such as these has taken more precedence in our districts, schools, and educational community than equitably meeting the diverse individual needs of students and families. Approaches that solely focus on teaching standards and protocol deny students access to important resources that contribute to their development. Finally, the book speaks to the simple solution that all rules, programs, policies and protocols should be prioritized with the intention of bettering the achievement of ALL students instead of bettering the teaching of standards.

About the Author

Dr. Barksdale currently serves as district behavior interventionist, crisis management trainer, and a recruiter for Laurens County School District 55 in Laurens, SC. He has served as an adjunct professor at Claflin University, and he is an educational consultant for districts, schools, and organizations in the areas of equity, school culture, and professional reflection.

A relentless advocate for equity, Dr. Barksdale devotes his research and training to creating fair and engaging learning cultures for students, especially those who are marginalized and underserved. He received his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from South Carolina State University, and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) as well as a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California. Dr. Barksdale is also the author of Equitable Schooling for African American Students. He can be contacted at infinityaspir ations@gmail.com. For more information, visit infinityaspirations.com.

This new title is available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com, and it will be available at other retailers soon. For more information, visit infinityaspirations.com or HadassahsCrownPublishing.com.