DOM COMING UP ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

>> TONIGHT I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE Dr. CHERYL B.

MINOR.

YOU ARE THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRINCIPAL OF A SCHOOL IN UTICA, NEW YORK.

>> I ENJOY BEING ABLE TO BE THE ROLE MODEL THAT MANY OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE BEFORE THEM.

IF I CAN SHOW THEM THAT THEY CAN BE WHATEVER THEY DESIRE TO BE, I'VE DONE MY JOB.

EDUCATION IS THE WAY OF CLIMBING THE LADDER TO SUCCESS.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

I AM YOUR HOST, Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS, AND WE ARE HERE IS TO APPRECIATE AND GET TO KNOW THE DIVERSE WOMEN IMPROVING CENTRAL NEW YORK.

TONIGHT I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE Dr. CHERYL B.

MINOR, WHO IS SHAPING OUR YOUTH AS THE PRINCIPAL OF WATSON WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN UTICA IN NEW YORK.

GATHER YOUR FAMILIES TO YOUR CHILDREN, LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS EPISODE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

BECAUSE TONIGHT WE ARE IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE CAME ON CAMERA.

WELCOME Dr. MINOR.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO US BECAUSE IT'S NOT VERY OVER THAT I GOAT TALK TO A HISTORY MAKER A WOMAN THAT IS BREAKING THROUGH CEILINGS, SHATTERING CEILINGS AND DOING SUCH AMAZING WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO I'M GOING TO JUMP IN BECAUSE YOU ARE THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRINCIPAL OF A SCHOOL IN UTICA, NEW YORK.

TELL ME ABOUT THE DAY YOU GOT THAT NEWS AND KNEW THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE THAT WOMAN.

>> I STARTED OUT IN THE DISTRICT AS A TEACHER AND I DECIDED THEN, WELL, LET ME GO FOR MY ADMINISTRATIVE DEGREE THINKING THAT IT'S BETTER TO BE PREPARED FOR OPPORTUNITIES AND TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND NOT BE PREPARED BUT IT WAS NEVER MY INTEREST TO BECOME AN ADMINISTRATOR IMMEDIATELY.

HOWEVER, AFTER QUITE A BIT OF PROMPTING, I DECIDED, LET ME APPLY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

AND APPLIED AND APPLIED AND APPLIED AND THEN EVENTUALLY, IT LED TO MULTIPLE INTERVIEWS, AND WHEN I WAS SELECTED, IT WAS JUST LIKE AN EPIPHANY.

I COULD NOT IMAGINE BEING SELECTED BECAUSE IT WAS SO HARD TO GET TO WHERE I AM.

>> SHIRLEY RALPH WHO JUST WON... >> HER SPEECH WAS PHENOMENAL.

IT WAS SO PHENOMENAL AND I TOOK IT TO HEART WHEN I HEARD IT BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE, YOU DON'T GIVE UP AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH ME.

BECAUSE I TRIED AND TRIED AND I GOT TO A POINT, AS I MENTIONED WHERE I FELT LIKE I WAS MOST QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION THAT I WAS APPLYING FOR.

>> SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME OUT LOUD.

>> AND I TRULY FELT THAT, TO MY HEART.

>> YOU WERE MOST QUALIFIED.

>> THAT I DID EVERYTHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND MORE TO BE APPOINTED THE POSITION.

AND DIDN'T GET IT.

BUT I GOT TO A POINT WHERE I'M NOT GOING TO GET IT BUT WHEN I DO TRY AGAIN, I'M GOING HAVE ALL THE SKILLS NECESSARY AND ABOVE WHERE I DIDN'T FEEL AS THOUGH I WOULD EVER BE DENIED.

BUT, OF COURSE, I'M NOT THE ONE MAKING THE DECISIONS, I THOUGHT AT THE TIME.

IT'S CONTINGENT ON SOMEONE ELSE GIVING THE APPROVAL.

BUT I INTO YOU THAT THE LAST TIME THAT I HAD APPLIED FOR THE POSITION, THAT THERE WAS NO RATIONAL REASON WHY I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN APPOINTED.

AND I THINK, THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD AND ALL THE EFFORTS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS BEING APPOINTED AT THE BOARD MEETING THAT NIGHT, WE HAD THE COMMUNITY THERE.

AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE COMMUNITY WAS GOING TO SHOW UP.

BUT THEY CAME AND THINGS WORKED OUT.

>> IT'S POWERFUL IN THOSE MOMENTS.

IT'S POWERFUL IN THOSE MOMENTS WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE I'VE DONE EVERYTHING AND I'M STRESSING THIS POINT BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE SOME WOMEN OUT THERE LISTENING, BLACK, WHITE, LATINA, YOU KNOW, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON, THAT ARE IN A ROLE RIGHT NOW WHERE THEY'RE LIKE I KNOW I'M QUALIFIED TO DO MORE THAN I'M BEING ALLOWED TO DO.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT WOMAN THAT'S LISTENING RIGHT NOW?

>> I WOULD SAY DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU ARE FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF.

AND ONCE YOU FEEL THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE QUALIFIED FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, DON'T LET ANYTHING STOP YOU FROM PURSUING THAT JOURNEY.

IT MAY NOT HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY, BUT WITH PERSISTENCE, THINGS WILL COME.

>> WITH PERSISTENCE, THINGS WILL COME.

YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT.

>> SURE.

>> AND I'M QUITE SURE HIVE IN YOUR LIFE'S JOURNEY, YOU HAVE HAD TO LEARN.

WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW DID YOU GO IT TO UTICA, NEW YORK?

>> WELL, I TELL YOU, WHEN I WAS GOING-- WELL, I WENT TO A HIGH SCHOOL THAT WAS A VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BRONX, NEW YORK.

AND BEING A CITY OF CHOICE, WE HAD THE OPTION OF SELECTING AND/OR APPLYING OR TESTING INTO A HIGH SCHOOL OF YOUR CHOICE.

AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT NURSING WAS GOING TO BE MY AVENUE INITIALLY.

>> OKAY.

>> SO I APPLIED TO JANE ADAMS VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND I TOOK UP NURSING.

SO I HAD SOME CHALLENGES WITH BEING IN A PROGRAM AS SUCH BECAUSE IT IS LIKE OH NO, YOU ARE GOING TO GO INTO A HOSPITAL, YOU ARE GOING TO WORK AS A NURSE BECAUSE THIS IS THE VOCATION YOU SELECTED AND I THOUGHT OH NO, I WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE.

AND THAT WASN'T REALLY THE DIRECTION THAT WAS ENCOURAGED BUT BECAUSE IT WASN'T ENCOURAGED, I FELT I WANT TO DO IT.

>> YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS, LIKE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ENCOURAGE ME, I'M GOING TO TRY IT BECAUSE YOU TOLD ME I SHOULDN'T.

>> AND APPLIED FOR EVERY-- FILLED OUT EVERY EDUCATION THAT I COULD FILL OUT.

AND THEN WAS ACCEPTED BY UTICA COLLEGE AMONGST OTHERS, BUT BECAUSE MY FATHER WAS A BIG SYRACUSE FOOTBALL FAN... [LAUGHTER] KIND OF STIRRED ME IN THE DIRECTION OF GOING TO SCHOOL AFFILIATED WITH SYRACUSE.

SO THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT ME UP TO UPSTATE NEW YORK.

>> AT THAT TIME YOU WERE EXPLAINING IT TO ME THAT UTICA COLLEGE WAS AN AFFILIATE OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

AND SO-- I MEAN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE TIME IN YOUR LIFE NOW, DEFINE SOME OF YOUR COUNSELORS AND ADVISERS AND COMING TO COLLEGE EVEN THOUGH THAT WASN'T THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING PERSPECTIVE, SOMETHING THAT YOU NEEDED TO DO, BUT YOU WERE DETERMINED TO DO.

WHAT IS IT LIKE NOW YOU HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE TO RETURN BACK TO THAT COMMUNITY AND CREATING AND LEADING THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE.

I THINK IT'S JUST FATE AND THE WILL-- ONE NEVER KNOWS THEIR DESTINY.

I FEEL AS THOUGH EVERYONE IS HERE FOR A PURPOSE.

AND I THINK THAT WHEN I FIRST GOT MY POSITION, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES GAVE ME A BOOK "KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE".

>> "KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE."

>> AND THAT WAS REALLY A WONDERFUL READ.

AND IT HELPED ME TO DIG DEEP WITHIN MYSELF AND SAY, IF I'M HERE FOR A PURPOSE, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP ANOTHER STUDENT?

NOT FOR ONE TO EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED IN BEING DISCOURAGED TO DO ACADEMICALLY, BUT ALSO TO SUPPORT THE RESILIENCE THAT SOME KIDS COME TO SCHOOL WITH BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT THEY HAVE AND NO ONE IS AWARE OF.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND TO HELP THEM DEVELOP A PASSION AND A JOURNEY AND A MIND SET OF HAVING A GOAL TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THEY DESIRE TO DO AND BECOME WHAT THEY CAN BECOME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S WONDERFUL THAT YOU GET TO DO THIS WORK EVERY DAY.

AS AGAIN THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRINCIPAL IN THE UTICA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, Dr. MINOR WORKS HARD TO ENSURE THAT HER SCHOOL IS A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR HER STUDENTS.

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW SHE PREPARES TO WELCOME HER STUDENTS BACK TO THE SCHOOL YEAR.

(BELL RINGING) >> GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME.

YOU ARE AT WATSON WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF THE UTICA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I AM CHERYL MINOR, I AM THE PRINCIPAL HERE AT WATSON WILLIAMS.

WE ARE A K-6 BUILDING.

WE HAVE ALMOST ABOUT 7 HAD YOU BEEN-- 700 STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO BEGIN RETURNING OUR STUDENTS IN OUR NEW INCOMING KINDERGARTENERS WHO ARE JOINING OUR SCHOOL THIS YEAR.

COVID-19 WAS A CHALLENGING EXPERIENCE FOR US IN THE BUILDING, ESPECIALLY TRANSITIONING FROM IN-PERSON TO A REMOTE LEARNING COMPLETE PROCESS.

AND THEN TRANSITIONING BACK TO A HYBRID IN-PERSON AND THEN REMOTE COMBINED.

AND LAST YEAR COMING BACK IT WAS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE THE STUDENTS HAD BEEN AWAY FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS FROM BEING IN AN INSTITUTIONALIZED SETTING AND WE HAD TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, AND WHEN WE DID SURVEYS OF THE STUDENTS, WE AND THE STAFF, WE REALIZED THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT THEY MISSED MOST: CONNECTING WITH THEIR FRIENDS, CONNECTING WITH THEIR PEERS, CONNECTING WITH THE TEACHERS, AND THE TEACHERS FELT THE SAME WAY.

IT WAS REALLY AN EYE OPENER AS TO HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THAT IN-PERSON INSTRUCTIONAL PROCESS HAPPENING.

THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY IS TRULY OUTSTANDING.

WE ARE IN A SOMEWHAT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY WHERE WE HAVE MOST OF THE IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATIONS IN OUR CATCHMENT AREA.

ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT I DID WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE TO WATSON WAS WE WROTE A GRANT SO THAT WE COULD GET A PLAYGROUND PUT IN PLACE.

AND SO THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT TO SUPPORT THAT.

WE GOT GRANT FUNDING PROVIDED TO US SO THAT WE COULD DO THE MATTING.

WE HAVE HAD OVERWHELMING SUPPORT THE TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT THAT WE LOOK FOR WITH STUDENTS COMING TO WATSON WILLIAMS IS FOR THEM TO FEEL SAFE AND CONNECTED; TO FEEL AS THOUGH THEY HAVE A PLACE THAT THEY CAN BE OPEN TO LEARNING AND DOING WHAT THEY FEEL THEY NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO FEEL SAFE.

I FEEL AS THOUGH IF I CAN SHOW THEM THAT THEY CAN BE WHATEVER THEY DESIRE TO BE YOU CANS BY THE THINGS-- BY THE THINGS THAT I DO AND THE WAY THAT I PREPARE THEM TO BE CITIZENS IN THIS GROWING GLOBAL SOCIETY, THEN I'VE DONE MY JOB.

>> SO, NOW-- THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL, WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

GIVING SO MUCH.

TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE NOW TO BE IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE.

YOU TOLD US REALLY INTERESTING THOUGHTS.

I WAS LIKE, YES.

YOU ARE IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE NOW, Dr. MINOR, WHAT IS THAT LIKE?

>> BEING IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE YOU ARE NOT JUST HELPING STUDENTS BUT YOU ARE HELPING ADULTS AS WELL.

YOU WEAR MANY HATS AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO GO TO WORK ASHED GO THE PAID FOR SOMETHING YOU HAVE A PASSION AND LOVE TO DO.

>> THAT'S A BLESSING.

>> IT REALLY IS.

AND I TRULY ENJOY BEING ABLE TO BE THE ROLE MODEL THAT MANY OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE BEFORE THEM SO THEY CAN SEE THAT I, TOO, ONE DAY, CAN PERHAPS BE IN A POSITION AS SUCH.

AND TO ASPIRE AND TO WANT TO BE, AND FEEL THAT EDUCATION IS THE WAY OF CLIMBING THE LADDER TO SUCCESS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE IDEA THAT HAD ME GIGGLING BEFORE WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, SO MANY TIMES THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE IS A SPACE THAT WE AVOID, RIGHT?

I WAS ONE-- I DIDN'T GET CALLED TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE EXCEPT FOR ONE TIME.

WE WON'T TALK ABOUT THAT ON CAMERA.

BUT FOR MANY, THERE IS A PERCEPTION OF LIKE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE IS WHERE YOU GO WHEN YOU ARE IN TROUBLE.

RIGHT?

YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG.

HOW WERE YOU COMBATING THAT IMAGE?

>> I STILL THINK THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE THAT PERCEPTION BECAUSE PARENTS, IN SOME REGARD, MAY HAVE HAD BAD EXPERIENCES.

SO, OF COURSE, THEY SAY YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE.

AND OFTEN TIMES WHEN STUDENTS NEED TO BE REDIRECTED, TEACHERS ARE LIKE, THEY NEED A STERN TALKING TO, THAT KIND OF THING.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I LIKE TO AFFORD STUDENTS A VOICE; TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY SOMETHING HAPPENED AND TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN A SAFE ZONE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, WHY IT HAPPENED, AND WHY THEY MADE THE CHOICE THEY MADE.

SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO COME INTO THE OFFICE AND KNOW THAT.

IF YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG, WE ARE GOING TO ACCEPT OUR CONSEQUENCES FOR WHATEVER WE DID WRONG AND TRY TO MAKE A BETTER DECISION.

AND I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT I'M THERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND HELP THEM AND I TRULY LOVE THEM.

AND I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE MAKE-- WE ALL MAKE THE WRONG CHOICES SOMETIMES.

>> UH-HUH.

UH-HUH.

>> BUT IT'S WHAT YOU DO AFTER YOU MAKE THE CHOICES.

SO WHEN THEY COME TO SCHOOL AND THEY HAVE, MOST OF THE STUDENTS AT MY SCHOOL HAVE DEVELOPED A NYSRA IMPORTANT WITH ME,-- A NICE RAPPORT WITH ME, THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THEY COME INTO MY OFFICE BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS AND SAY Dr. MINOR, CAN YOU DO MY HAIR?

I CAN'T GO INTO CLASS LIKE THIS.

AND I HAVE THAT TYPE OF RAPPORT WITH A LOT OF THE STUDENTS HER THEY FEEL SO COMFORTABLE THAT THEY CAN COME IN AND START THEIR DAY IN A POSITIVE WAY WITH THE PRINCIPAL.

>> MY MOM WAS A TEACHER FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

AND THEN SHE SAID I CAME ALONG AND I WAS TOO BUSY.

AND SO SHE HAD TO GET HOME SOONER-- THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS NECESSARILY TRUE.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS SHE TALKED ABOUT WAS THAT THE RELATIONSHIP SHE HAD WITH SOME OF THE STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL.

AND IN THOSE MOMENTS WHEN YOU COULD UNDERSTAND MER THEY WERE-- WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM.

>> I OFTEN SAY TO MY TEACHERS, LET'S STAND OUTSIDE AND GUIDE THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOMS SO THAT THIS THE AFFORDS YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEM UNDERSTAND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM, JUST BRIEFLY.

JUST BRIEFLY BEFORE THEY ENTER.

AND BY HAVING THAT KIND OF UNDERSTANDING AND FORESIGHT HELPS YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR DAY MAY GO LIKE.

SOMETIMES STUDENTS MAY COME IN THE CLASSROOM AND START OUT RIGHT AWAY WITH NOT BEING APPLYING THEMSELVES.

>> WHEN-- >> OR ALL BECAUSE OF A PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.

>> AND IT'S SO FUNNY, AS AN EDUCATOR, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH OF YOUR PARENTS EXPERIENCES INFORM YOUR EXPERIENCE, THE GOOD AND THE BAD, RIGHT?

AND HOW YOU ARE EQUIPPED TO NAVIGATE IT.

CAN COVID THAT HAS INTERRUPTED THE NORMALCY, AT LEAST OF WHAT EDUCATION LOOKED LIKE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC; RIGHT?

OBVIOUSLY YOU LEADING THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE.

I WONDER WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT NOW IN EDUCATION, DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THAT MANY STUDENTS LACK SOME EXPERIENCES AND WITH HAVING COVID, WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC ERA, I WOULD SAY, IT HAD STUDENTS VIRTUALLY LEARNING AND A LOT OF THAT LEARNING THAT TOOK PLACE WAS NOT THE DIRECT LEFT-HAND BOWLER-- WAS NOT THE DIRECT LEARNING THAT MOST STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL WITH.

SO THEREFORE WE ARE FINDING THAT SOME OF THE STUDENTS ARE LACKING SOME OF THE SKILLS, AT LEAST A YEAR OR TWO BEHIND IN ORDER TO MEET THE CURRENT GOALS OF THEIR CURRENT GRADE LEVEL.

HOWEVER, LIKE I SAY ALL THE TIME, STUDENTS THAT ARE IN THE MOST VULNERABLE SITUATIONS, ARE VERY RESILIENT.

GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THEM WHAT YOU INTO ED THEM TO DO, THEY'LL COME RIGHT IN AND PLEASE YOU YOU IN EVERY WHICH WAY THEY CAN AND TRY TO DO THE BEST THAT THEY CAN AT WHAT YOU ARE ASKING THEM TO DO.

BUT HONESTLY, THE LEARNING CURVE HAS SHIFTED QUITE A BIT.

AND STUDENTS ARE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE-- TEACHERS ARE TRYING TO ACTUALLY MAKE UP THOSE TWO YEARS AT THIS POINT IN TIME SINCE POST-COVID.

>> AND WE HAD SOMEONE ON THAT WAS PART OF THE CLASS OF 2000 AND I'M LIKE,-- NOT 2000 BUT 2022, AND TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT IMPACTED HER, RIGHT, AND IT WAS SO MUCH CONVERSATION AROUND THIS CLASS OF OF 2020 THAT WAS ENT GOING TO GET THE TRADITIONAL END OF YEAR EXPERIENCES.

>> THE GRADUATIONS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND SO I THINK FOR MANY OF US THAT ARE SUPPORTERS OF EDUCATION, EDUCATION ADVOCATES, I THINK I WOULD ASK, AS YOU ARE SOMEONE THAT IS IN THE BUILDING LEADING, BEING THERE, DOING HAIR IN THE MORNING, IF YOU NEED TO.

WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THE CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNITY TO DO IN SUPPORT OF THE WORK YOU AND THE TEACHERS ARE TRYING TO HELP PROVIDE, BUT ALSO MITIGATE IN THE MIDST OF WHAT WE HAVE JUST BEEN THROUGH?

>> WELL ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO BRING BACK SOME NORMALCY.

MANY OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT' WE WERE DOING BEFORE IN THE SCHOOLS, WE HAD TO CURTAIL OR REMOVE BECAUSE WE COULDN'T ALLOW PEOPLE IN.

WE HAD TO DO THE SOCIAL DISTANCING.

WE HAD TO DO THE TESTING, ET CETERA.

AND SO MANY OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT INVOLVED THE COMMUNITY AND THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAD, WE COULDN'T DO ANYMORE SO NOW WE ARE OPENING UP THE BUILDINGS AND TRYING TO BRING ALL THOSE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES BACK INTO THE SCHOOLS FOR THE STUDENTS.

I WAS TALKING WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WELL VERSED IN TECHNOLOGY, INTERESTED IN COMING IN AND WORKING WITH THE KIDS IN TECHNOLOGY WORKING ON OUR STEP PROGRAM.

WORKING WITH ANOTHER GROUP THAT WANTS TO COME IN AND DO FINANCIAL LITERACY WITH THE KIDS ALL THESE AVENUES ARE OPENING UP AND WE ARE DOING A COMMUNICATION PIECE AND YOU ARE INVITED TO WORK WITH OUR STUDENTS ON COMMUNICATION AND EXPLORE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE IN A REAL SITUATION.

SO I THINK THAT SOME OF THE STUDENTS THAT ARE PART OF OUR POPULATION MAY NOT HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE THAT SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS CAN AFFORD THEM AND NOW THAT WE ARE BACK TO SOME NORMALCY AND TRYING TO STRETCH OUT MY TENTACLES AS FAR AS I CAN.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR THAT THE COMMUNITY PLAYS A ROLE AND WE HAD AN EVENT FOR 9/11 WHERE WE INVITED ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS IN AND WE DID A WHOLE PRESENTATION AND EVERYTHING, STUDENTS WROTE THANK YOU CARDS AND DID POEMS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF EXPERIENCES THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY, FIRST RESPONDERS HELP EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANT THEM TO HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE PEOPLE.

BRINGING INDIVIDUALS INTO THEIR ARENA HELPS THEM TO BE GOOD CITIZENS OF OUR SOCIETY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, Dr. MINOR, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME THIS EVENING ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN ABOUT YOU AND WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

WHEN YOU WANT TO SHARE THIS SHOW WITH SOMEONE ELSE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS VISIT US ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG/"BEHIND THE WOMAN" MY NAME IS Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS AND ON BEHALF OF THE "BEHIND THE WOMAN" TEAM, THANK YOU AND HAVE A BLESSED NIGHT.

NEXT WEEK ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN..." >> OVER THE COURSE OF SEASON 3, WE HAVE DOVED INTO THE LIVES OF WOMEN DOING AMAZING AND NECESSARY WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

TONIGHT WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM TO CELEBRATE THOSE WOMEN.

WE WILL HEAR FROM SOME POWERFUL PERFORMERS AND GET TO KNOW THREE MORE WOMEN DESERVING OF A SPOTLIGHT.

I WANT TO YOU GATHER YOUR FAMILY, THEY WON'T WANT TO MISS TONIGHT'S EPISODE.

THE THIRD SEASON FINALE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN."