White Paper for Leaders: Facilitating Difficult Conversations in Schools

In our increasingly divided society, administrators and academic leaders face a unique opportunity to bring informed, respectful, and productive discourse to their school communities. The Facing History & Ourselves framework for engaging in and facilitating challenging conversations highlights the pivotal role school leaders play in fostering environments where these discussions can take place constructively. As such, many educators look to their school leadership for guidance, training, or permission to engage students in lessons and conversations about current events and controversial topics. The tools shared throughout this white paper can help you model for school and community constituents how to navigate these conversations while promoting a culture of dialogue and reflection.