Meet Tonya Black, State College Area’s new director of diversity, equity and inclusion

Tonya Black has spent the majority of her career — 25 years — as an educator in the State College Area School District, most recently as an assistant principal at State High. Now, she’s settling into a new role as the district’s director of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Black is the only the second person to ever have the DEI director title in the SCASD. She took over in November for Seria Chatters, who became Penn State’s assistant vice provost of educational equity. Although other districts have DEI coordinators or commitments, Black is the only exclusive DEI administrator in Centre County.

In a press release announcing the appointment in November, interim superintendent Curtis Johnson said Black was the ideal person to fill the role.

“In her various roles, she has consistently promoted equitable, welcoming and inclusive environments in our schools, all the while demonstrating kindness and a love for our students and entire community,” Johnson said.

As DEI director, Black’s goal is to ensure the district’s diversity and equity commitments are present in every policy, building and program. This can mean anything from helping with student discipline and restorative justice, training educators, to helping socio-economically disadvantaged students with sports or club fees.

“We want to make sure that we have a culture that is welcoming, inclusive, affirming, and free from bias and that we ensure students’ identities do not predetermine their school success or their current challenges don’t predetermine school success,” Black said.

Each day looks different for Black, liaising with other administrators, checking in on programs, assisting teachers and moderating conversations with families as a restorative justice trainer. Although the term diversity is commonly associated with race, ethnicity, religious or sexual orientation, Black’s role affects every student in the district, not just those from historically underrepresented groups.

“One of the misconceptions of my office is that it is just race and ethnicity for a certain group and it is not,” Black said. “It is to make sure that everyone who is in our school community has access and given what they need —creating either direct programming or learning platforms or accommodations to make sure that each student leaves here knowing that they’re cared for and with a plan to succeed.”

Diversity has always been a focus in Black’s life from a very young age, watching her parents fight against discrimination. Black’s father was a pastor in Philadelphia who advocated for civil rights and started youth summer camps. Her mother’s side was from Prince Edward County in Virginia, where in 1959 the district’s board of supervisors chose to close the district rather than desegregate the schools. Black’s aunts and uncles were sent off to New York and Pennsylvania to be educated by Quakers, a testament to her grandparent’s dedication to their education, she said.

“I’ve never met more loving people than my grandparents, who were so forgiving and always committed to improving the world when they could have been bitter because some very bad things happened,” Black said.

Black’s office also worked with schools across the district during February for Black History Month. Her ultimate goal is for the themes and lessons taught during Black History Month to be included in the district’s regular curriculum but sees themes as ways to showcase student and faculty diversity.

“It’s so important for historically underrepresented groups to highlight their experiences and their backgrounds to cultivate a sense of belonging,” Black said. “If you don’t feel important and connected, then you’re not going to have a sense of belonging.”