Siena Blog

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In honor of Black History Month 2026, Siena is highlighting this year’s school-wide professional development work, a big read of the Newbery Award–winning graphic novel New Kid by Jerry Craft. 

These year-long discussions — paired with some practical guidance for teachers and staff from all three campuses — are helping Siena educators refine their classroom practices and reaffirm our commitment to creating learning environments where every student feels seen, understood, and supported.

New Kid and Teacher Professional Development

Published in 2019 by HarperCollins, New Kid tells the story of African American middle school student Jordan Banks, a budding artist who lives in Washington Heights, New York, and commutes daily to an upscale private school, where he is one of the only students of color in his grade. New Kid explores some salient themes, among them: 

• Identity
• Parent-child relationships
• Racial microaggressions
• Racial stereotypes
• Code-switching
• Intra- and interracial friendships

Through shared documents to share reflections, takeaways, and broader connections, groups composed of faculty, staff, and administrators have explored important issues related to race, stereotypes, cultural competency, and how diversity and inclusion show up in classrooms and curricula. 

In conversations around the book, faculty and staff have explored how Craft challenges common, well-intentioned practices — such as assigning books that portray Black characters primarily through struggle — and explains the unintended messages this can send to students. For example, Chapter 8 includes an interlude from Jordan’s sketchbook that is a clever meta-commentary how Black and white characters were given different kinds of books as gifts: 
 

Through Jordan’s story, Craft encourages educators to broaden their choices by highlighting stories that reflect joy, complexity, and a full range of lived experiences. As the centerpiece of a shared professional development initiative, New Kid has sparked thoughtful reflection and honest conversation about school culture, the varying cultures and expectations of people therein, the experiences many students navigate every day — and about the moments adults may unintentionally overlook. 

Through this collective reading, Siena educators are strengthening their ability to notice, face, and thoughtfully engage with the realities that shape inclusive school communities.

“But the best part is that my fans are kids, teachers, librarians, parents... it has been truly amazing! And so many have shared stories of how in some way, New Kid has changed their outlook on how they relate to others. I couldn't ask for more than that!” —Jerry Craft (Shelf Awareness, January 2020)

Resources for Black History Month

Listen to Jerry Craft in conversation with Siena’s Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement Samantha Fletcher on her Daily Border Crossings podcast (or watch the video here on YouTube). 

See additional heritage month resources on our blog, including Book and Podcast Recommendations, Siena’s Community Playlist, profiles of writers LeDerick Horne and Marcia Brissett-Bailey.

Visit Siena’s DEIB Page

Resources for Teachers

See additional teacher resources on our blog, including Summer Reading for Siena Teachers, Poetry and Liberation, and Unlocking History Through Hands-On Learning.

The Siena School, a national leader in dyslexia education now in its 20th year, serves bright, college-bound students with language-based learning differences on DC Metro area campuses in Silver Spring, MD (grades 3-4 and 5-12) and Oakton, VA (grades 3-12).