Kugler, Eileen Gale 1950–

PERSONAL: Born May 3, 1950, in Elizabeth, NJ; daughter of Milton J. (a hardware retailer) and Edith (a teacher; maiden name, Allen) Gale; married Larry B. Kugler (an educational consultant), June 13, 1971; children: Sara R., Alexander. Education: George Washington University, B.A. (with special honors), 1972. Religion: Jewish.

ADDRESSES: Home and office—Embrace Diverse Schools, 6807 Bluecurl Cir., Springfield, VA 22152. E-mail—EKugler@EmbraceDiverseSchools.com.

CAREER: Writer and consultant. Food Chemical News, assistant editor, 1974–77; U.S. Department of Agriculture, director of information for Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1979–81, member of communications staff, 1982–87; Public Voice for Food and Health Policy, director of communications, 1988–90; Institute for Science in Society, deputy director, 1991–92; Kugler Communications, Springfield, VA, founder, principal, trainer, speaker, and consultant, 1992–. Embrace Diverse Schools, founder, 2002.

MEMBER: National Association for Multicultural Education, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, National Speakers Association, Teachers against Prejudice.

AWARDS, HONORS: Superior Service Award, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1983; Book of the Year designation, Delta Kappa Gamma International, and Multicultural Book of the Year designation, National Association for Multicultural Education, both 2003, and Choice citation in outstanding academic title category, all for Debunking the Middle-Class Myth: Why Diverse Schools Are Good for All Kids; named Virginia Education Advocate of the Year, American Association of University Women, 2004.

WRITINGS:

Debunking the Middle-Class Myth: Why Diverse Schools Are Good for All Kids, Scarecrow Press (Lanham, MD), 2002.

Contributor to periodicals, including Technos Journal, Catalyst, Educational Leadership, Washington Post, and USA Today.

SIDELIGHTS: Eileen Gale Kugler told CA: "My writing champions the benefits that diversity brings to education. As I contemplated writing my book, I feared that I—a middle-class white woman—did not have standing to write a book about diversity. But, after long conversations and much soul-searching, I came to realize that my perspective is not only valid, it's critical.

"My two children attended one of the most diverse public high schools in the country—Annandale High in Fairfax County, Virginia—and I am deeply grateful that they had the opportunity to be educated in this remarkable school. I watched parents of younger children move out of our school district as they fell victim to negative myths about schools with a broad mix of racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. At the same time, I watched my children flourish both academically and socially. Both went on to excel at top national colleges and in challenging careers, and both feel 'privileged' (their word) to have been a part of their multi-cultural public high school. Today, my children are comfortable in any environment, talking to just about anyone. And they know how to listen and how to respect opinions that are different from their own, growing from the exposure.

"My passion for the benefits of an education in a diverse school has led me to write and speak about the strengths of these schools and to work with communities to develop strategies that build support for them. I've talked with many parents, students, and educators, and I have heard the same passion about the learning environment expressed over and over again. There is overwhelming enthusiasm for what these schools have to offer, and there is overwhelming frustration at the misinformation that abounds among those who don't have first-hand experience with a diverse school.

"This story needs to be told. We need to share the lessons learned from these remarkable places. We need to spread the information so that middle-class parents—parents who have the luxury to choose their neighborhoods—stop falling for the negative myths that lead them to move into neighborhoods where the majority of students look and think alike. We need to encourage these parents to seek out schools where children of various backgrounds enrich academics and social interactions by bringing a range of experiences and knowledge to the classroom, because that is simply the best way to educate all children.

"As enriching as diverse schools can be, they can only reach their potential with leadership who enthusiastically take on the challenges that make them successful. The courageous and dedicated educational leaders and teachers who daily accept this challenge need the support of all the stakeholders in the community—students, parents, and community members of all backgrounds. A diverse school that is well run and supported by the community is an academic and social gold mine. It provides just the type of education that our students and our greater society need."

"My goal is to encourage parents of every economic status and every race or culture to seek out well-run diverse public schools, enjoy their benefits, and help to make them work. I hope my writing inspires competent educators to flock to the diverse schools and work to provide all students with what they need to achieve. And I hope entire communities will rally around these previous gems in their midst. When it all comes together, the results are extraordinary.

"The experience of being part of a school like Annandale High School can't be bought or measured on standardized tests. It is beyond value or measurement, and it will be in your heart for a lifetime. Through my writing I hope to share that gift with others."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

ONLINE

Embrace Diverse Schools Web site, http://www.embracediverseschools.com/ (July 4, 2005).

Kugler Communications Web site, http://www.kuglercom.com/ (July 4, 2005).