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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A school district long celebrated as a model for progressive education and racial equity now faces accusations that it tried to silence its own diversity chief for calling out uncomfortable truths. In Today in Ohio’s latest podcast episode, co-hosts Leila Atassi and Laura Johnston unpacked the growing controversy in Shaker Heights, where Chief Diversity Officer Lawrence Burnley has filed a discrimination complaint against the district. The irony wasn’t lost on the podcast hosts: a district that proudly reaffirms its commitment to racial equity is now accused of retaliating against the very person hired to advance that mission — for being too honest about racial disparities in student achievement. “If the district isn’t afraid to say the words racial equity, then why does it seem so afraid to fully confront what the data shows about how its Black students, especially Black boys, are actually doing in school? Doesn’t that feel really confusing?” asked Atassi, pinpointing the central contradiction at the heart of the controversy. At the center of the dispute are stark achievement gaps Burnley revealed during a July board meeting. As Johnston explained: “48.7% of Black boys and 45% of Black girls in Shaker were proficient in reading by third grade. Compare that to 67% and 69% of all boys and girls. And then math is even worse. We’re talking about fifth-grade math. 19.4% of Black boys, 11.25% of Black girls pass the state testing compared to 52% and 46% of all boys and girls.” After presenting those numbers, Burnley says he faced pushback from Superintendent David Glasner. According to Johnston, Burnley “has an attorney, Subodh Chandra, and he wrote that Burnley’s position has now become a mere symbolic gesture, rather than empowering him to lead meaningful change. And he wants the district to course correct immediately.” The Today in Ohio conversation dug into why a district so proud of its progressive reputation might recoil from transparency. Johnston speculated that the district wants to convey the image of supporting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, while not wanting to be outed for its problems. “It’s like they’re airing dirty laundry to the public, which does not seem to go with the rest of Shaker Heights’ personality,” Johnston said. That tension — between institutional image and institutional reality — runs through the entire controversy. And it’s unfolding against a national backdrop where diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives face growing political hostility. As Atassi noted, “It takes a lot of guts in this political climate to keep saying you’re committed to racial equity, especially when Trump’s administration is actively dismantling DEI programs nationwide.” The podcast episode explores how even in communities that prize inclusivity, acknowledging inequities can feel threatening. In Shaker Heights, the debate now centers on whether true equity means preserving appearances or confronting hard truths in public. Listen to the discussion here. Read more Today in Ohio news ‘A patch, not a solution’: DeWine’s $6M infusion for driver’s ed misses the real problem Imagine one school board for all of Cuyahoga County. Here’s why that wild idea always fails “It’s like making The Handmaid’s Tale a guidebook:” Ohio’s Success Sequence sparks debate Listen to full “Today in Ohio” episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston.
